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04:33
Methods for Detecting Cough and Airway Inflammation in Mice
Published on: August 2, 2024
Bronchoconstriction-triggered cough in conscious guinea pigs.
Noriyuki Ohkura1, Masaki Fujimura, Johsuke Hara
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Division of Cellular Transplantation Biology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan.
Experimental Lung Research
|May 6, 2009
Summary
Methacholine (Mch) inhalation causes bronchoconstriction and cough in guinea pigs. Bronchoconstriction triggers cough through rapidly adapting irritant receptors (RARs), but not C-fibers.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Physiology
- Neuropharmacology
Background:
- Cough and bronchoconstriction are common respiratory symptoms.
- Understanding the neural pathways involved is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction and cough.
- To determine the roles of C-fibers and rapidly adapting irritant receptors (RARs) in these responses.
Main Methods:
- Conscious guinea pigs were used to measure enhanced pause (Penh) as an index of bronchoconstriction.
- Cough frequency was quantified following methacholine inhalation.
- The effects of procaterol, capsaicin desensitization, and moguisteine were examined.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation was observed between increased Penh and cough count.
- Procaterol abolished both Mch-induced bronchoconstriction and cough.
- Moguisteine dose-dependently inhibited cough but not bronchoconstriction.
- Capsaicin desensitization did not affect Penh or cough.
Conclusions:
- Bronchoconstriction elicits cough via RARs, not C-fibers.
- Neither RARs nor C-fibers are implicated in the bronchoconstrictive effects of methacholine itself.
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