Contribution of the glossopharyngeal nerve in imidapril-mediated enhancement of the swallowing reflex in rats.

Imidapril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, enhances the swallowing reflex and reduces the incidence of aspiration pneumonia. The aim was to identify the primary afferent fibers involved in imidapril-mediated enhancement of the swallowing reflex in an arterially perfused rat model. Enhancement of swallowing burst amplitude was abolished following bilateral glossopharyngeal nerve transection, whereas enhancement persisted after bilateral superior laryngeal nerve transection. These findings suggest that the glossopharyngeal nerve is essential for imidapril-enhanced swallowing. The results provide insights into the neural mechanisms underlying modulation of the swallowing reflex by pharmacological agents.