The Influence of the Hypothalamus on the Sympathetic Innervation of the Nasal Vasculature of the Cat

Abstract

Electrical stimulation of areas of the hypothalamus and mesencephalon in the anaesthetized cat induced bilateral nasal vasoconstriction, retraction of the nictitating membranes, and a rise in arterial blood pressure. the areas of the brain from which marked nasal vasoconstriction could be induced were similar to those previously described as the defence area, and it is suggested that nasal vasoconstriction may be one component of an integrated defence reaction. Some separation of the various autonomic responses induced on electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus was achieved by variation in either electrode position, stimulation frequency, or pulse duration. the results provide evidence which indicates that the hypothalamus is involved in the regulation of the sympathetic innervation of the nasal mucosa. This finding may be of some significance in understanding the aetiology of psychosomatic nasal disorders in Man.