title: Met-enkephalin effects on histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs.
abstract: We investigated the effects of the neuropeptide met-enkephalin on histamine-induced bronhoconstriction in an experimental model of asthma. Classic Konzett and Rössler's method of whole body plethysmography modified by Gjuris, was applied in the study. This method represents a standard experimental model of bronchoconstriction, suitable for the evaluation of peptide effects on the histamine-induced bronchoconstriction. The results of the measurements implicate a dose-related modulatory effect of met-enkephalin on the bronchoconstrictor action of histamine. Met-enkephalin doses of 1 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, respectively, caused statistically significant reduction of the histamine-induced bronchoconstriction. Estimated ED50 dose was 0.235 mg/kg. Further studies are needed to define practical and therapeutical use of the presented observations in respiratory pharmacology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Center "Zagreb", School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Dorian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tjesić-Drinković
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stambuk
authors.forename: Duska
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tjesić-Drinković
authors.forename: Pasko
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Konjevoda
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gotovac
authors.forename: Tihomir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Curković
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Votava-Raić
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016084:Bronchoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006632:Histamine; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D006632:Histamine