Changes in airway reactivity to exogenous and endogenous acetylcholine and substance P after anaphylactic...

1. In anaesthetized, actively sensitized guinea-pigs, the anaphylactic shock induced by antigen aerosol challenge (5 s; 50 mg ml-1) was followed by increase in airway reactivity to both acetylcholine and substance P. In particular dose-response curves to acetylcholine (3-1000 micrograms kg-1 i.v.) and to substance P (5-80 micrograms kg-1 i.v.) obtained in antigen exposed animals were significantly shifted to the left of those performed in control guinea-pigs (exposed to saline aerosol). 2. The hyperreactive phenomenon after antigen aerosol was also evident when capsaicin-induced bronchoconstriction (1-4 micrograms kg-1 i.v.) was tested; the degree of hyperresponsiveness was similar to that observed with acetylcholine and substance P as agonists. 3. The frequency-response curves to vagal stimulation, either cholinergic or NANC in nature, were not significantly modified in guinea-pigs challenged with the antigen in respect to those aerosolized with saline. 4. The data obtained in the present study indicate that the airway hyperresponsiveness present in the animal model used is non-specific, involving both cholinergic and peptidergic effects. On the other hand, the lack of potentiation of the bronchoconstriction response to electrical stimulation might suggest that the establishment of a clear hyperreactive phenomenon is under the control of different mechanisms unrelated to increased bronchial reactivity.