D. Spina et al., A COMPARISON OF SENSORY NERVE FUNCTION IN HUMAN, GUINEA-PIG, RABBIT AND MARMOSET AIRWAYS, Life sciences (1973), 63(18), 1998, pp. 1629-1642
Citations number
48
Categorie Soggetti
Biology,"Medicine, Research & Experimental","Pharmacology & Pharmacy
We have investigated the role of sensory nerves in regulating airway s
mooth muscle function in the guinea-pig, marmoset, rabbit and man. Tis
sue levels of the sensory neuropeptides CGRP and substance P in the ai
rways of the guinea-pig were significantly greater compared with the r
abbit and marmoset. The relative order of tissue content was guinea-pi
g >>> rabbit = marmoset. Marmoset bronchial and tracheal preparations
responded weakly to exogenously administered substance P and neurokini
n A but contracted to methacholine and demonstrated atropine-sensitive
cholinergic responses. In marmoset, rabbit and human airway preparati
ons, capsaicin mediated weak contractile responses to exogenously admi
nistered capsaicin. However, high concentrations of capsaicin elicited
a relaxation response that was epithelium-independent, cyclo-oxygenas
e-insensitive, not involving nitric oxide and not dependent on the act
ivation of capsaicin-sensitive afferents. These results suggest that r
abbit and marmoset airways respond functionally in a similar way to hu
man airway preparations and maybe more relevant than guinea-pig airway
s with regard to understanding the role of sensory neuropeptides in ai
rways.