BRADYKININ-INDUCED AIRWAY CONTRACTION IN 2 LINES OF GUINEA-PIGS WITH CONGENITALLY DIFFERENT AIRWAY SENSITIVITY

The airway responsiveness to bradykinin (0.1, 1 and 10 mu g/kg, i.v.) was examined in two lines of guinea pigs, BHS (bronchial hypersensitiv e) and BHR (bronchial hyposensitive) lines, with different airway sens itivity to inhalation of acetylcholine (ACh)-aerosol. Normal Hartley s train guinea pigs were used as a control group. The airway contraction was measured by recording intratracheal pressure (P-IT) and respirato ry airflow ((V) over dot) under the condition of artificial ventilatio n in anesthetized guinea pigs. The results show airway responsiveness to bradykinin in BHS guinea pigs to be significantly greater than in B HR and normal Hartley strain guinea pigs.