Abstract
That endothelin-1(ET-1) plays a mediator role in asthma is consistent with reports of ET-l-induced potentiation of cholinergic nerve-mediated contraction in airways from various animal species. This study examined the effect of ET-1 on cholinergic contractions in human isolated bronchus.Macroscopically nondiseased human bronchial tissue was obtained from 23 patients with respiratory tumours. An electrical field stimulation (EFS) frequency that produced one third of the contraction at 30 Hz (EFS30) was estimated. The effect of ET-I on these EFS-evoked contractions was assessed.EFS-evoked contractions were frequency-dependent and abolished by either atropine or tetrodotoxin. Thus, EFS-induced contractions were mediated by acetylcholine from cholinergic nerves. ET-1 (3 nM) potentiated EFS-evoked contractions by 10+/-2% EPS30 (p
| Original language | English |
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| Pages (from-to) | 439-442 |
| Journal | European Respiratory Journal |
| Volume | 14 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1999 |