Abstract
1. To determine whether alterations in membrane sodium transport in airway smooth muscle can alter its contractility, we studied the effect of ouabain (a Na+/K(+)-adenosine triphosphatase inhibitor) and amiloride on contractile responses in bovine trachea and human bronchial rings in a series of studies. 2. Ouabain (10(-6)-10(-4) mol/l) caused concentration-related contraction of bovine trachea with a maximum effect at 30 min; the mean increases in tension with 10(-6), 10(-5) and 10(-4) mol/l ouabain were 19, 27, and 32%, respectively, of the maximum response seen with 10(-3) mol/l histamine (n = 6). In human bronchial rings, ouabain (10(-5) mol/l) caused a mean contraction which was 40% of the maximum response to methacholine (n = 8). 3. Calcium-free fluid (plus ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) and nifedipine (10(-5) mol/l) inhibited ouabain-induced contractions, suggesting that contraction was mediated in part by calcium entry via voltage-dependent calcium channels. Phentolamine (10(-5) mol/l) was without effect. 4. Ouabain (10(-5) mol/l) did not alter histamine responsiveness in bovine trachea or methacholine responsiveness in human bronchial rings. 5. Amiloride did not affect resting tone in bovine trachea but caused a concentration-dependent relaxation of bovine tracheal strips preconstricted with carbachol, 10(-3) mol/l amiloride relaxing strips completely over 15 minutes (n = 8).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Published Version
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