EFFECT OF CHOLINERGIC AND ANTICHOLINERGIC AGENTS ON PRIMATE MODEL OF ALLERGIC ASTHMA

Abstract

Rhesus monkeys with reagin-mediated, immediate-type respiratory responses to Ascaris antigen were used for comparison with the type of responses that occur from certain pharmacologic agents. Carbacholine produces a respiratory response that is the same type as an antigen-induced respiratory response and can sensitize an animal''s airway so that a dose of antigen not reactive alone can stimulate a response. Antigen and histamine sensitize the airway so that a subthreshold dose of carbacholine can produce a respiratory response. Atropine completely inhibited the carbacholine response and reversed the increased sensitivity to carbacholine that occurs after an antigen response. Atropine did not block the antigen-induced respiratory response or the respiratory response to prostaglandin F2.alpha.. Partial inhibition of these responses may have occurred but was not detected in the systems used in these studies. A double-antigen challenge system in the rhesus model of asthma provides a useful technique for evaluating the effect of pharmacologic agents on the reagin-mediated respiratory response.