The electrophysiologic and neurochemical properties of paratracheal neurones in situ and in dissociated cell culture.

Although our knowledge of the intrinsic innervation of the airways is at present rather limited, it would appear that these neurones have several features in common with other intramural ganglia. They show a level of electrophysiologic diversity that might permit considerable integration and modulation to take place. Furthermore, the localization of a wide variety of neuropeptides in the neurones and in fibers within the paratracheal ganglia indicates that they may also possess the neurochemical specialization necessary to allow these ganglia to act as sites of complex local regulation.