Novel Insights in the Neurochemistry and Function of Pulmonary Sensory Receptors

Description

With the advances of immunohistochemistry in combination with confocal microscopy, airway sensory receptor end-organs can now be examined and evaluated objectively. Based on their ‘neurochemical coding’, morphology, location and origin, three sensory receptor end organs are currently morphologically well-characterised: smooth muscle-associated airway receptors (SMARs), neuroepithelial bodies (NEBs) and visceral pleura receptors (VPRs). The present information on the functional morphological and neurochemical characteristics of these sensory receptors, leads to important conclusions about their (possible) function. Front Matter....Pages i-xii Sensory Nerve Terminals in Intrapulmonary Airways and Lungs....Pages 1-5 Electrophysiologically Identified Airway Receptors: Main Characteristics....Pages 7-15 Morphology and Location of Electrophysiologically Identified Sensory Airway Receptors....Pages 17-18 The Neurochemical Coding of Airway Afferents....Pages 19-21 Morphologically Identified Sensory Receptor End-Organs in the Airways, Lungs and Visceral Pleura....Pages 23-77 In Situ Functional Imaging of Sensory Receptors in Lung Models....Pages 79-89 Concluding Remarks and Future Prospects....Pages 91-94 Back Matter....Pages 95-118