The effect of anaphylactic shock on laryngeal calibre in rabbits

Abstract

Laryngeal resistance to airflow has been measured during anaphylactic shock in three groups of spontaneously breathing rabbits: (1) intact, (2) vagotomized and (3) vagotomized and with superior laryngeal nerves cut. In the intact animals anaphylaxis elicited large increases in expiratory laryngeal resistance. The anaphylactic constriction of the larynx did not depend on reflexes from the lungs as the responses were even more pronounced in the vagotomized animals. Cutting the superior laryngeal nerves with vagotomy lessened the size of the increase in laryngeal expiratory resistance.