Yx. Jia et al., CHOLINERGIC INFLUENCE ON THE SENSITIVITY OF COUGH REFLEX IN AWAKE GUINEA-PIGS, Journal of autonomic pharmacology, 18(5), 1998, pp. 257-261
1 We studied the effects of an intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration o
f atropine on bronchomotor tone induced by carbachol aerosols in anaes
thetized and ventilated guinea-pigs and on the sensitivity of cough re
flex to capsaicin aerosols in awake guinea-pigs. 2 The intraperitoneal
administration of atropine (10(-8)-10(-6) M kg(-1)) reduced carbachol
(8 mg ml(-1); 1 min)-induced increases in pulmonary insufflation pres
sure and a complete inhibition was achieved at a dose of 10(-6) M kg(-
1) in anaesthetized guinea-pigs. 3 In awake guinea pigs, capsaicin aer
osols (10(-5)-10(-3) M) caused dose-dependent increases in the number
of coughs. Atropine (10(-7)-10(-6) M kg(-1) i.p.) shifted the dose-res
ponse curves to capsaicin to the right in a dose-dependent fashion. Ca
rbachol aerosols, at the maximal concentration (2 mg ml(-1)) that did
not cause bronchoconstriction, shifted them to the left compared with
the control. 4 Atropine (10(-6) M kg(-1) i.p.) significantly increased
the provocative concentration of capsaicin that caused five coughs (P
< 0.01) and carbachol aerosols (2 mg ml(-1)) significantly decreased
it (P < 0.01). 5 We conclude that cholinergically mediated airway tone
regulates cough sensitivity in awake guinea pigs.