Am. Bramley et al., EFFECTS OF IZP-94005 (CONTIGNASTEROL) ON ANTIGEN-INDUCED BRONCHIAL RESPONSIVENESS IN OVALBUMIN-SENSITIZED GUINEA-PIGS, British Journal of Pharmacology, 115(8), 1995, pp. 1433-1438
1 We have investigated the novel naturally occurring marine compound,
IZP-94005 (contignasterol), as a potential anti-asthma agent, using bo
th in vivo and in vitro models of allergen-induced bronchoconstriction
and airway smooth muscle contraction. 2 Tracheal rings from ovalbumin
(OA)-sensitized guinea-pigs were treated with various concentrations
of IZP-94005 for 20 min prior to challenge with ovalbumin. IZP-94005 (
3-30 mu M) inhibited responses of sensitized tracheal rings stimulated
with OA in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC50 of 10 mu M.
3 IZP-94005 (10 mu M) had no effect on carbachol-induced contractions
of sensitized guinea-pig tracheal rings, although it did inhibit hist
amine-induced responses of OA sensitized guinea-pig tracheal rings. 4
The effects of IZP-94005 in vivo were examined using OA-sensitized gui
nea-pigs which were tracheotomized under anaesthesia and placed in a b
ody plethysmograph. Measurements of lung resistance and compliance wer
e performed by isovolumetric analysis of volume and trans-pulmonary pr
essure. 5 IZP-94005 (50 and 200 mu g kg(-1)), by inhalation 20 min Fri
er to OA challenge caused significant inhibition of the increase in lu
ng resistance induced by OA in sensitized guinea-pigs, compared to veh
icle-treated animals. Nedocromil sodium (20 mg kg(-1)), with a similar
protocol, also inhibited OA-induced responses in this model. 6 We the
refore suggest that IZP-94005 is a good candidate for further investig
ation as a possible antiasthma agent.