Modulation of the Cholinergic Mechanisms in the Bronchial Smooth Muscle.
Abstract
In the present work it was shown that cholinergic nerves to the bronchial smooth muscle were modulated by several independent mechanisms. The release of acetylcholine (Ach) was regulated by presynaptic muscarinic receptors and by adenosine. The presynaptic regulation of release was shown to operate in addition to the postsynaptic stimulation of the bronchial smooth muscle. The function of the cholinergic nervous system in bronchi and lung is depending on the activities of acetylcholinesterase and cholinesterases, which exhibited rather high activities in the tissues. Serotonin, which is stored in and released from pleural mast cells, potentiated the release of Ach and thereby the contraction of the bronchial smooth muscle. In addition to the presynaptic effect there was also a postsynaptic stimulatory response to serotonin. Special attention was paid to the peptide neurotensin, which potentiated both the release of Ach and stimulated the muscle to contract by postsynaptic receptors. Further, NT specifically induced release of serotonin and histamine from rat pleural mast cells.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA145106
Entities
People
- P. Aas
Organizations
- Norwegian Defence Research Establishment