Vagal reflexes and asthma.

Although vagal reflexes are well documented in animal models of airway hyperresponsiveness, their importance in asthmatic attacks in man is less documented. Indeed most of the stimuli that can trigger bronchoconstriction act only partially through a cholinergic reflex. However, inflammatory mediators released in airways during asthma attacks may stimulate different sites of cholinergic pathways, i.e. in the sensory receptors, afferent, efferent,...