Excretion in the airway (I). Effect of autonomic drugs.

Abstract

Measurement of the excretion was carried out according to Sakuno's method with modifications, and the amount of protein and saccharide in the excretion was measured. The viscosity of excretion was also determined. With an i.p. injection of pilocarpine, a marked increase was observed in the amount of excretion and saccharide, and there was a slight decrease in the amount of protein. There was no appreciable change in viscosity. Such changes by pilocarpine in the excretion of airway were inhibited completely by a pretreatment with atropine. With noradrenaline there was a tendency for the amount of excretion and protein to decrease, and adrenaline caused no appreciable changes. A slight increase was observed in the viscosity after isoproterenol. With phentolamine, there was a slight decrease in the viscosity and protein, and a slight increase in the amount of saccharide. In contrast, propranolol clearly decreased the amount of excretion and saccharide. With a pretreatment of phentolamine, the amount of saccharide dramatically increased after noradrenaline, and the amount of excretion also increased after isoproterenol. On the other hand, with propranolol treatment, noradrenaline slightly decreased the amount of excretion, as well as protein and saccharide, and isoproterenol clearly decreased the amount of excretion with a slight decrease of protein. Continuous doses of isoproterenol for more than 2 weeks, dramatically increased the amount of excretion, protein and particulary the viscosity.