Cold air-induced bronchoconstriction is mediated by tachykinin and kinin release in guinea pigs

In the present study, we investigated the role of acetylcholine, tachykinins and kinins in the bronchoconstriction induced by cold air inhalation. Cold air was delivered to anaesthetised, artificially ventilated guinea pigs through a tracheal cannula. Inhalation of cold air increased the maximum total pulmonary resistance (RL) in a time-dependent manner, reaching a maximum after 15 min of exposure. The increase in RL induced by exposure to cold air for 10 min was not affected by pretreatment with atropine (1.4 mu mol/kg, i.v.); it was abolished by the tachykinin NK2 receptor antagonist, SR 48968 (0.3 mu mol/kg, i.v.) and was reduced by 58% by the kinin B2 receptor antagonist, HOE 140 (0.1 mu mol/kg, i.v.). These findings suggest that cold air induces bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs via a cascade that involves the release of kinins and tachykinins.