Abstract
Periodic changes in the appearance of the nasal mucosa during the menstrual cycle, have long been recognized. A consideration of this so-called “naso-sexual relationship” led Mortimer, Wright and Collip 1 to observe the effects of parenterally administered estrogenic substance upon the mucous membranes of the nose. The changes which they observed suggested the use of estrogens in the treatment of atrophic rhinitis. They reported clinical improvement in such cases, following the repeated application of oily solutions of estrone directly to the nasal mucous membranes. Blaisdell 2 arrived at the same therapeutic idea from the similarity in the pathology of atrophic rhinitis and of atrophic or senile vaginitis, and from the previously reported efficacy of local estrogen therapy in the latter condition. He also reported clinical improvement in atrophic rhinitis obtained by intranasal estrin therapy.
The local treatment of atrophic rhinitis with estrone has produced only mildly favorable or negative results in our hands. We were also impressed by the lack of any evidence of gonadal deficiency in most of our cases. Both these facts deprecated the importance of the “naso-sexual relationship”, but did not offer any other explanation for such therapeutic results as were obtained with the estrogens. The situation was clarified by a recent study of one of us and coworkers, 3 in which it was found that the various component phenomena of estrus may be classified into 2 categories:
1. The specific proliferative effects of estrin, and
2. Those effects which are secondary to hyperemia.
The latter effects can be reproduced by non-specific hyperemic agents such as yohimbin. However, when they result from estrin action, they are due to the acetylcholine-liberating properties of this hormone, as demonstrated by Reynolds. 4
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