Bronchopulmonary inflammation and airway smooth muscle hyperresponsivenessinduced by nitrogen dioxide in guinea pigs

Citation
A. Papi et al., Bronchopulmonary inflammation and airway smooth muscle hyperresponsivenessinduced by nitrogen dioxide in guinea pigs, EUR J PHARM, 374(2), 1999, pp. 241-247
Citations number
40
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Pharmacology & Toxicology
Journal title
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
ISSN journal
0014-2999 → ACNP
Volume
374
Issue
2
Year of publication
1999
Pages
241 - 247
Database
ISI
SICI code
0014-2999(19990618)374:2<241:BIAASM>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
We investigated whether acute exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) causes maj or inflammatory responses (inflammatory cell recruitment, oedema and smooth muscle hyperresponsiveness) in guinea pig airways. Anaesthetised guinea pi gs were exposed to 18 ppm NO2 or air for 4 h through a tracheal cannula. Br onchoalveolar lavage was performed and airway microvascular permeability an d in vitro bronchial smooth muscle responsiveness were measured. Exposure t o NO2 induced a significant increase in eosinophils and neutrophils in bron choalveolar lavage fluid, microvascular leakage in the trachea and main bro nchi (but not in peripheral airways), and a significant in vitro hyperrespo nsiveness to acetylcholine, electrical field stimulation, and neurokinin A, but not to histamine. Thus, this study shows that in vivo exposure to high concentrations of NO2 induces major inflammatory responses in guinea pig a irways that mimic acute bronchitis induced by exposure to irritant gases in man. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.