Influence of adrenergic drugs on IgE production

The influence of some adrenergic drugs (fenoterol, salbutamol, terbutaline as stimulant; propranolol as blocker) on IgE production in the rat was investigated. The drugs were administered orally, mixed in the food. The stimulant drugs caused a significant decrease of total serum IgE but had no influence on the specific IgE antibody response. The beta adrenergic blocker caused a significant increase of total serum IgE but also had no influence on specific IgE. The effect of terbutaline was blocked by propranolol. No influence of these adrenergic drugs on IgA and IgM levels was observed.