title: Azelastine inhibits bronchial hyperreactivity to acetylcholine in guinea pigs.
abstract: Contractile responses to acetylcholine were measured using isolated tracheae obtained from actively sensitized guinea pigs 0.5, 1, 5, 20, 24, 48 and 72 h after antigen challenge. Tracheal contractions to acetylcholine and to histamine were significantly increased 20 h but not 0.5, 1, 5, 24, 48 and 72 h after antigen challenge indicating bronchial hyperreactivity. When animals were pretreated with azelastine and then exposed to antigen challenge, concentration-response curve to acetylcholine did not differ from that obtained in control (non-challenged) tracheae. It is likely that azelastine is able to inhibit bronchial hyperresponsiveness to chemical mediators of bronchial asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, ASTA Pharma AG, Frankfurt/Main, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Achterrath-Tuckermann
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Szelenyi
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010793:Phthalazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014132:Trachea / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D010793:Phthalazines; D011724:Pyridazines; D006632:Histamine; D010047:Ovalbumin; D000109:Acetylcholine; C020976:azelastine