Airway response to adrenergic agonists and antagonists in 3-day- to 2-year-old rats.
The response of the airways to adrenergic agonists and antagonists was studied in 3-day- to 2-year-old and bronchitic rats. The results showed that the alpha-adrenoceptors are not functional at birth but become so by 8 weeks. In contrast, the beta-adrenoceptor effects are demonstrable on the third day after birth. The mean decrease in airway luminal diameter after beta-adrenergic blockade was greater in bronchitic than in healthy animals and was interpreted to be due to the increased sensitivity of the beta-adrenoceptors in bronchitis.
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000502:physiology*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009921:Metaproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010646:Phentolamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000502:physiology*; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000502:physiology*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000502:physiology*
D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D009921:Metaproterenol; D001285:Atropine; D011433:Propranolol; D000109:Acetylcholine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine; D010646:Phentolamine