Mechanisms of the antiallergic action of N-methylmequitazine (LG 30435).

Abstract

LG 30435 (N-methylmequitazine) was assayed in passive lung (PLA) and cutaneous (PCA) anaphylaxis in guinea-pigs and rats. At doses from 0.3 to 3 mumol kg-1 i.v., it produced a dose-dependent inhibition of guinea-pig PLA and of rat PCA and PLA, while the parent compound was ineffective or poorly effective up to 3 mumol kg-1. An attempt was made to elucidate the mechanism of LG 30435's action in these anaphylactic models, by means of various antagonists. It was tentatively concluded that different mechanisms are involved in the protective action of LG 30435 in each of the three models: histamine antagonism, possibly accompanied by an inhibition of the effects of peptido-leukotrienes in guinea-pig PLA; histamine antagonism in rat PCA and 5-hydroxytryptamine antagonism in rat PLA, possibly accompanied by a mast-cell stabilizing action in both cases. LG 30435 is devoid of smooth muscle relaxant effects on the airways and its demonstrated anticholinergic and anti-PAF effects do not appear to be involved in its antiallergic action.