It has previously been shown that mucociliary activity in the rabbit maxillary sinus is immediately increased after short-term exposure to such airway irritants as cigarette smoke and ammonia vapor. This increase is mediated through the stimulation of capsaicin-sensitive nerve endings. Besides producing the mucociliary effect, these irritants inhibit breathing, a response characteristic of the diving reflex in mammals. Whether an increase in mucociliary activity is part of the diving reflex was investigated by injecting 0.5 mL water into the nasopharynges of anesthetized rabbits. Mucociliary and respiratory responses were compared with the effects of mechanical stimulation (ie, rotating an intranasal catheter until sneezing occurred). Water challenge produced an increase in mucociliary activity of 21.6% +/- 2.4%, a response that began approximately 10 seconds after injection. Mucociliary acceleration was completely blocked by atropine, indicating a cholinergic mechanism, but was unaffected by pretreatment with capsaicin. The respiration rate was inhibited by about 45% after challenge with water. Pretreatment with atropine and capsaicin had no effect on this reduced respiratory rate. Mechanical stimulation of the nasal mucosa accelerated mucociliary activity. This response appeared approximately 4 seconds after stimulation was begun, and occurred simultaneously with the onset of sneezing. The peak increase was 22.0% +/- 2.1%. Sneezing was followed by an increase in the respiration rate of about 40%. Pretreatment with atropine or capsaicin had no effect on respiratory responses, but did inhibit mucociliary acceleration, suggesting that the response is mediated through cholinergic effector neurons after activation of capsaicin-sensitive nerve endings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)