Defensive Respiratory Reflexes in Ferrets

We have studied defensive reflexes in the ferret. As for the mouse, this species lacks a cough reflex on mechanical stimulation of the tracheal mucosa, and this may be related to the lack of nerves and mucus-secreting cells in the tracheal epithelia of these species. The bronchial cough reflex is similar to that of guinea pigs and rabbits, and the laryngeal reflexes are similar to those in rats