Vascular anti-permeability effects of beta-receptor agonists and theophylline in the lung

Acta Pharmacol Toxicol (Copenh). 1979 Mar;44(3):216-20. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0773.1979.tb02320.x.

Abstract

In conscious guinea-pigs the effect of theophylline, terbutaline and isoprenaline on histamine-induced increase in lung weight was examined. Animals exposed to a saline aerosol had a lung weight to body weight ratio of about 0.8%. Exposure to a histamine aerosol raised this value to about 1.1 (P less than 0.001). Theophylline 55 mg/kg and 110 mg/kg was given orally, terbutaline 0.1 mg/kg and isoprenaline 0.01 mg/kg and 0.03 mg/kg subcutaneously before exposure to histamine. The three drugs prevented the lung weight effect produced by histamine aerosol (P less than 0.01, P less than 0.001, P less than 0.001, P less than 0.1, P less than 0.001 respectively). Changes in lung blood content did not contribute to the weight-reducing effects. The potency ratio found between terbutaline and isoprenaline suggests that beta-2-receptors might be involved in the anti-permeability effect. Propranolol-treated animals did not survive in the histamine-aerosol unless they received theophylline; neither bronchodilator nor antipermeability effects of theophylline were antagonized by propranolol. It is concluded that in guinea-pigs theophylline and beta-agonists, in bronchodilating doses have the additional effect of preventing permeability oedema in the lung.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Capillary Permeability / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Histamine / pharmacology
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Isoproterenol / administration & dosage
  • Isoproterenol / pharmacology*
  • Lung / blood supply*
  • Lung / drug effects
  • Male
  • Organ Size
  • Terbutaline / administration & dosage
  • Terbutaline / pharmacology*
  • Theophylline / administration & dosage
  • Theophylline / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Histamine
  • Theophylline
  • Isoproterenol
  • Terbutaline