So do you dispute the beta-2 receptors in the bronchi which DILATE
the bronchi?
These are supplied by t1-t5, specifically the intermediolateral
nucleus which run to the inferior cervical and thoracic sympathetic
ganglia.  (the sympathetic system)

I quote Clinical Neuroanatomy for Medical Students (text used
at chiropractic college), RS Snell, MD, PhD 1980 Page 421
"the sympathetic post ganglionic fibers arise from the second to
the fifth thoracic ganglia of the sympathetic trunk.....produce
BRONCODILATION......"

I quote for GROLIER'S (not the best reference, but...)
 "In an emergency situation ......, the
sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system is stimulated, relaxing
the bronchial muscle.  The resulting dilation of the bronchial tubes enables
more oxygen to reach the alveoli, so that the person can better cope with the
emergency"

Here is my previous post.  So what do you disagree with specifically?
Don't delete stuff, note what you disagree with, and give a reference
(not a review article).
{I promise I'll look it up (this is for the other 'person' who tried
to call me an idiot)}.

<<<Guyton is a medical reference that uses authority as evidence.
Sorry I don't have a basic science reference, but this is
basic.

"Sympathetic stimulation can dilate the bronchi and mildly
constrict the {*filter*} vessels.  On the contrary,
parasympathetic stimulation can cause mild constriction of
 the bronchi and can perhaps mildly
dilate the vessels"  

Guyton, Textbook of Medical Physiology 6th ed. page 716

Both the parasympathetic and autonomic systems are part of
the autonomic.  The sympathetic tracts do travel within the
spinal cord.>>>>>

Prevention and Wellness Clinic
291 Aurora Ave., St. Paul, MN 55103  (612) 222 3171
Chiropractic, Nutrition and Herbology.......Services and Products.

The role of the autonomic system in airways disease is very interesting.  
My recollection is that the sympathetic nervous system (as in sympathetic
nerves ending on pulmonary tissue not beta 2 receptors) plays a minor
role compared to parasymp nerves.  In any event, we can do 2 things to
pursue this interesting topic:

1:  Is Josh Backon around?  Any comments on the role of sympathetic
nerves (again not b2 receptors) in maintaining airway tone?

2:  We can all read (you too Grant):

    Control of airway caliber by autonomic nerves in asthma and in chronic
     obstructive pulmonary disease.
   American Review of Respiratory Disease, 1991 Jun, 143(6):1421-6.

     Autonomic nervous system abnormalities and asthma.
   American Review of Respiratory Disease, 1990 Mar, 141(3 Pt 2):S157-61.

Finally, once we sort out whether sympathetic nerves arising from spinal
ganglia play a role in airway tone, we still have no clue as to whether
chiropractic can affect this, right? We'd still have to do Nye's
experiment.

Cooooool.  Real science in the chiro thread!

About 2 years ago I remember reading a paper in a pediatric journal on an
inverse relationship between asthma and epilepsy (the increased vagal tone
in asthma being protective).

Now for speculation: the lungs can regulate cardiovascular function through
neural mediators and mechanical forces (Am J Med Sci 1987;294:451-461). The
cardiac cycle can become entrained to the respiratory cycle. In respiratory
sinus arrhythmia, deep inspiration stimulates sympathetic fibers and inhibits
vagal inhibitory fibers, and this affects heart rate variability, an index
of autonomic activity. So by implication there MUST be some kind of feedback
loop for physiological regulation.

The nasal cycle is an index of autonomic tone and there is a high correlation
between forced unlateral nostril breathing and lateralization of plasma
catecholamines (Life Sciences 1986;38:1203-14). What's interesting is that
nasal stimulation may affect the pulmonary vascular bed and result in
ventilation-perfusion imbalances (Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery
1986;95:298-302). Nasal occlusion affects respiratory function and arterial
oxygenation (Lancet 1988;1:73-75). Research in the ENT literature
has shown that even unilateral nasal obstruction can affect respiratory
function but the SIDE of the obstruction was unspecified. In unpublished
work, I and a nuclear medicine specialist volunteered ourselves in a
replication of a 1939 study done on rabbits  and the ventilation-perfusion
differences between left vs. right sided obstruction were remarkable.

Last but not least: there may be a relationship between leukotriene levels
and SNS activity.

In summary: the sympathetic nervous system does seem to affect airway function.
Whether the receptor is or isn't the beta2 receptor is another question.

Josh

This thread started when I simply made
a statement that there is a component of the nervous system that passes through
the spinal c{*filter*}that ennervates components of the respiratory system.

I attempted to correct that physiology student (or whatever he is? since he didn't
identified what he does) who was wrong to blast the DC, for claiming that there was
 such a connection (since there is such a connection whether it be large or small
in importance clinically)

This was also, indirectly,  to allow for the possibility that asthma MIGHT be affected
by chiropractic care.

BTW, I received a lovely post from a happy chiropractic patient receiving both DC and
MD care for asthma.  Thanks again.

I do agree that simply knowing the physiology does not prove the adjustments
would cure this "medically incurable" disease.  I am also under the impression
it is increasing in incedence, prevalence, and mortality!
Yes I know medicine has some potent management {*filter*}
and that there is such a thing as spontaneous remission.

Prevention and Wellness Clinic
291 Aurora Ave., St. Paul, MN 55103  (612) 222 3171
Chiropractic, Nutrition and Herbology.......Services and Products.

Prevention and Wellness Clinic
291 Aurora Ave., St. Paul, MN 55103  (612) 222 3171
Chiropractic, Nutrition and Herbology.......Services and Products.

From "Control of Airway Caliber by Autonomic Nerves in Asthma [. . .]"
American Review of Respiratory Disease 143:1421:

"The sympathetic innervation of the human lung is sparse [. . .] Airway
smooth muscle receives few sympathetic nerves, but it has many relaxing
beta2 receptors."

"Furthermore, local release of norepinephrine from sympathetic nerve is
probably not important because airway smooth muscle virtually lacks
sympathetic innervation"

"Sympathetic nerve activity probably does not directly control airway
muscle, but it may have an effect via presynaptic modulation of
cholinergic neurotransmission"

So, despite the gross anatomic observation that sympathetic fibers emerge
from thoracic ganglia and go to the lungs, it seems an untenable
hypothesis that chiropractic manipulation of sympathetic traffic can
significantly alter airway smooth muscle tone since there is a paucity of
sympahetic nerves actually going to the airways.

Is is POSSIBLE?  Why, yes, it is.  Alas, many things are possible, this
just seems like one of the less probable of the possible.  In fact, I can
think of no disease where it is not POSSIBLE that chiropractic is
effective.

This assessment is no doubt due to my open and inquisitive mind.

I will point out that this was a "review" article on the subject.  If any
critics feel it is a biased representation of the experimental data,
their comments are most welcome.

(BTW, in an effort to improve communication and allow rebuttal I will
snail mail the ARRD article to Dr. Rostig and await his comments with
interest.)