An experimental non-invasive animal technique for measuring nasal airway resistance: I. Adrenergic and antihistaminic agents.

A non-invasive technically simple and sensitive method is described for the determination of nasal airway resistance (NAR). Aerosolized saline elicited a +/- 7% change in baseline NAR, duration 2 minutes, whereas aerosolized histamine increased NAR, duration is greater than 30 minutes. Aerosolized phenylephrine, norepinephrine, and oxymetrazoline elicited dose related decongestive response in a naris subjected to prior congestion (aerosolized histamine). Both H1 and H2 receptors are involved in the congestive response to intranasal histamine.