Identification and characterization in a feline model.
Shaker, Reza, Bidyut K. Medda, Junlong Ren, Safwan Jaradeh, Pengyan
Xie, Ivan M. Lang.
MCW Dysphagia Institute, Division of Gastroenterology and
Hepatology, the Departments of Medicine, Radiology and
Otolaryngology, The Medical College of Wisconsin, and Zablocki VA
Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI
APStracts 5:0126G, 1998.
Earlier studies in humans have shown that pharyngeal stimulation by
water at a threshold volume induces a brief vocal cord adduction;
pharyngoglottal closure reflex. The present study was undertaken to:
1) develop a suitable animal model for physiologic studies of this
reflex and 2) delineate its neural pathway and effector organs.
Studies were done in cats by concurrent videoendoscopy and manometry
followed by electromyographic studies. At a threshold volume (0.3
" 0.06 ml) injection of water into the pharynx resulted in a
brief closure of the vocal folds, closing the introitus to the
trachea. Duration of this closure averaged 1.1 " 0.1 seconds.
Bilateral transection of the glossopharyngeal nerve completely
abolished this reflex, but not swallows induced by pharyngeal water
stimulation. Conclusions: The pharyngoglottal closure reflex is
present in the cats. The glossopharyngeal nerve is the afferent
pathway of this reflex and the interarytenoid and lateral
cricoarytenoid muscles are among its target organs.
Received 6 October 1997; accepted in final form 30 April 1998.
APS Manuscript Number G394-7.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Gastrointest. Liver
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1998 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 8 May 1998