title: Ganglion-blocking agents enhance neurally mediated bronchoconstriction in the guinea-pig: possible role of sensory neuropeptides.
abstract: The effect of ganglion blockade by hexamethonium bromide (0.1-100 mumol.kg-1) and pentolinium tartrate (0.01-3 mumol.kg-1) on the bronchoconstriction induced by vagal nerve stimulation (15 Hz, 0.2 ms, 3 s, 7-20 V) was evaluated in the anaesthetized guinea-pig. Both ganglion-blocking agents potentiated this response dose dependently. When the neural bronchoconstriction was suppressed by atropine, hexamethonium restored this response dose dependently. Hexamethonium produced inhibitory effects on vagally induced bronchoconstriction in capsaicin-desensitized and in propranolol- or reserpine-pretreated guinea-pigs. Propranolol (0.03-3 mumol.kg-1) produced a marked dose-dependent increase of neural bronchoconstriction (which was markedly reduced, about 10 times) in capsaicin-desensitized animals. Our results show that ganglion-blocking agents potentiate neural bronchoconstriction in the guinea-pig and that sensory neuropeptides may have a role in this effect. Moreover, beta-adrenergic modulation of the release of neuropeptides from vagal sensory fibers is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Laboratori Guidotti S.p.A., Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Monte
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Omini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Subissi
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects*; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005730:Ganglionic Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006584:Hexamethonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000502:physiology*; D010425:Pentolinium Tartrate / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D012110:Reserpine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005730:Ganglionic Blockers; D006584:Hexamethonium Compounds; D009479:Neuropeptides; D001285:Atropine; D012110:Reserpine; D010425:Pentolinium Tartrate; D011433:Propranolol; D002211:Capsaicin