title: Effects of beta 2-adrenergic agonists on isolated guinea pig lung mast cells.
abstract: The mast cell protective effects of the newly developed long-acting beta 2-agonists salmeterol and formoterol were compared with those of conventionally used beta 2-agonists, non-specific beta-agonists, disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) and theophylline. With the exception of DSCG, all the test agents inhibited ovalbumin-induced histamine release from enzymically dispersed guinea pig lung mast cells in a dose-dependent fashion. At the maximum concentration tested, theophylline produced the highest level of protection, inhibiting up to 90% of ovalbumin-induced histamine release whereas DSCG produced only 10% inhibition. The maximum inhibition produced by all the beta 2-agonists tested was around 45%. While salmeterol was equipotent with salbutamol, formoterol was at least a 100-fold more potent. Hence the present study confirmed the previously reported mast cell stabilizing actions of conventional beta 2-agonists and extended the observation to the newly developed long-acting analogues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories.
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D000818:Animals; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000187:drug effects; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D013806:Theophylline / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D010047:Ovalbumin; D013806:Theophylline; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium