Acute and chronic effects of unilateral cervical sympathectomy on nasal allergy-like symptoms induced by toluene diisocyanate in guinea pigs.

The role of the sympathetic nervous system in nasal allergy was examined using guinea pigs with nasal allergy sensitized by 2,4-toluene diisocyanate (TDI). Nasal allergy-like symptoms were suppressed at the first TDI provocation after cervical sympathectomy. This finding suggests that the sympathetic nervous system contributes to the development of symptoms in nasal allergy. However, the inhibitory effect of sympathectomy gradually disappeared. The animals with chronic cervical sympathectomy were more prone to manifest nasal allergy-like symptoms induced by TDI. These findings suggest that compensatory activation of the parasympathetic nervous system in reaction to sympathectomy might exacerbate nasal allergy. The findings in the present study also provide an experimental basis for stellate ganglion block treatment of nasal allergy.