Effects of propranolol and indomethacin on muscarinic airway reactivity in unanesthetized guinea pigs.

Abstract

To investigate whether endogenous beta-adrenergic stimulation or cyclooxygenase products normally affect muscarinic reactivity in conscious, spontaneously breathing guinea pigs, we measured specific airway resistance (SRaw) during acetylcholine (ACh) infusion before and after treatment with propranolol (10 mg/kg ip) or indomethacin (30 mg/kg ip). Airway reactivity was assessed by measuring changes in SRaw upon increasing ACh infusion. We found that propranolol treatment increased reactivity to parenteral ACh, but did not change baseline SRaw. Furthermore, propranolol reduced the range in muscarinic reactivity for the group, and it enhanced thr reproducibility of measurements in individual animals. In contrast, indomethacin had no effect on either baseline SRaw or muscarinic reactivity. Our results suggest that beta-blockade of endogenous adrenergic stimulation increases the muscarinic reactivity of guinea pig airways, but does not influence resting airway tone. It appears that propranolol treatment allows a more reproducible assessment of muscarinic reactivity in the guinea pig. In contrast, cyclooxygenase products do not seem to significantly affect baseline airway resistance, reactivity, or reproducibility in the guinea pig.