January 1999, Volume 126, Issue 1, Pages 312 - 316

Original Article

Anaphylactic bronchoconstriction in BP2 mice: interactions between serotonin and acetylcholine Seok-Yong Eum1, Xavier Norel2, Jean Lefort1, Carlos Labat2, B. Boris Vargaftig1,3 & Charles Brink2 1Unité de Pharmacologie Cellulaire, Unité Associée Institut Pasteur-INSERM 485, Institut Pasteur 25, Rue du Dr. Roux, 75015 Paris, France     2CNRS ERS 566 Centre Chirurgical Marie-Lannelongue, 133 Avenue de la Résistance, 92350 Le Plessis-Robinson, France     3Author for correspondence: E-mail: vargafti@pasteur.fr

Keywords

Anaphylactic bronchoconstriction;   mice;   5-HT;   atropine;   methysergide;   ACh;   neostigmine

Abstract

1   Immunized BP2 mice developed an acute bronchoconstriction in vivo and airway muscle contraction in vitro in response to ovalbumin (OA) and these contractions were dose dependent. 2   Methysergide or atropine inhibited OA-induced bronchoconstriction in vivo and airway muscle contraction in vitro. 3   Neostigmine potentiated the OA-induced bronchoconstriction in vivo and airway muscle contraction in vitro of BP2 mice. This potentiation was markedly reduced by the administration of methysergide or atropine and when the two antagonists were administered together, the responses were completely inhibited. 4   Neostigmine also potentiated the serotonin (5-HT)- and acetylcholine (ACh)-induced bronchoconstriction and this potentiation was significantly reversed by atropine. 5   These results indicate that OA provokes a bronchoconstriction in immunized BP2 mice by stimulating the release of 5-HT, which in turn acts via the cholinergic mediator, ACh.

Received 6 July 1998; Revised 15 October 1998; Accepted 20 October 1998

^© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 1999