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Changes in airway responsiveness and β‐ and α‐adrenergic receptors in the lungs of guinea pigs with experimental asthma
Author(s) -
Motojima S.,
Yukawa T.,
Fukuda T.,
Makino S.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1989.tb00448.x
Subject(s) - ovalbumin , receptor , histamine , adrenergic receptor , endocrinology , medicine , allergen , alpha (finance) , inhalation , adrenergic , guinea pig , asthma , chemistry , immunology , allergy , anesthesia , antigen , surgery , construct validity , patient satisfaction
The effects of inhaled allergen on airway responsiveness and on β‐ and α‐1‐adrenergic receptors on lung membrane were investigated in guinea pigs. After measuring the respiratory threshold to histamine (RT‐HIS), one group of guinea pigs passively sensitized for ovalbumin was challenged by allergen inhalation (challenged group). Measurement of the RT‐HIS 24 h following challenge revealed a significant decrease from 687 μg/ml (mean, n = 16) to 407 μg/ml ( P < 0.05). In addition the RT‐HIS 24 h after challenge was also significantly lower in the challenged group than in controls ( n = 9, P < 0.05). The density of α‐adrenergic receptors on the lung membrane of the challenged group was 594 ± 32 (mean ± SE) fmol/mg protein ( n = 11) compared with 712 ± 24 fmol/mg protein ( n = 9) in the controls, a statistically significant difference ( P < 0.05). A significant correlation was found between the RT‐HIS and density of β‐adrenergic receptors. From these results, we concluded that the exaggerated airway responsiveness 24 h after allergen challenge is in part due to a decrease in the density of P‐adrenergic receptors. There was no difference in the density of β‐1‐adrenergic receptors nor a significant correlation between the RT‐HIS and the number of α‐1‐adrenergic receptors in the challenged vs. the control groups.