This proposal focuses on sensations arising from the lung. Sensations arising from electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve and resulting from various stimuli applied to the lungs or individual lung segments and lobes in awake humans will be examined. Sensations resulting from various stimuli applied to the lung including bronchoconstriction and localized lobar or segment lung inflation and lung collapse will be performed in normal subjects, subjects with denervated lungs (following lung transplantation) and subjects with denervated chest walls (high cervical spinal cord transection). The proposed experiments address several questions: (a) what qualities of sensations arise from pulmonary afferents, (b) which types of pulmonary afferents are responsible for various sensations, (c) are pulmonary sensations well localized to lung regions, (d) what are the perceptible thresholds of various stimuli applied to pulmonary afferents. Specifically the following will be determined: 1) what respiratory sensations arise from electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve in awake humans, 2) whether the sensations of """"""""tightness"""""""" associated with bronchoconstriction is perceived by subjects with denervated lungs, 3) whether the sensations produced by lobar or segmented lung inflation is abolished by topical anesthesia or denervation of the lungs, 4) what sensations arise from focal collapse of lung segments. Vagal afferents are proposed to be the source of breathlessness and other respiratory sensations arising from the lung. These studies are expected to increase the understanding of the properties of respiratory sensation and improve the diagnosis and management of cardiopulmonary disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL057916-02
Application #
2910642
Study Section
Respiratory and Applied Physiology Study Section (RAP)
Project Start
1998-05-26
Project End
2001-04-30
Budget Start
1999-05-01
Budget End
2000-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
082359691
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Lansing, Robert W; Moosavi, Shakeeb H; Banzett, Robert B (2003) Measurement of dyspnea: word labeled visual analog scale vs. verbal ordinal scale. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 134:77-83
Binks, Andrew P; Moosavi, Shakeeb H; Banzett, Robert B et al. (2002) ""Tightness"" sensation of asthma does not arise from the work of breathing. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 165:78-82
Binks, A P; Paydarfar, D; Schachter, S C et al. (2001) High strength stimulation of the vagus nerve in awake humans: a lack of cardiorespiratory effects. Respir Physiol 127:125-33