Effect of macrophage stimulation on parasympathetic airway contraction in dogs

The effect of lung macrophages stimulated with calcium ionophore on parasympathetic contractile response of canine bronchial rings was studied. Macrophages augmented the contraction induced by electrical field stimulation, an effect that was inhibited by indomethacin and by SQ29548, a thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist, but had no effect on the contractile response to exogenous acetylcholine. These results suggest that macrophage-derived thromboxane A2 facilitates cholinergic neurotransmission prejunctionally in airway smooth muscle.