Abstract
Studies of the causes of bronchial asthma always point to the common charactaristic of air way hypersensitivity.
In order to test the effectiveness of Sch 1000 in reducing air way hypersensitivity in the patients, three groups of asthmatics and nonasthmatics were divided up for clinical treatment in the following way.
One group was administered only Sch 1000 as cholinergic blocker, second group was administered acetylcholine only, and third group was administered acetylcholine after Sch 1000 inhalated.
The results were as follows :
1) Among both asthmatics and nonasthmatics in the group which inhalated only Sch 1000, cyclic AMP levels rose considerably after inhalation, however the ammount of increase was higher among nonasthmatics cyclic GMP levels were decreased in nonasthmatics with Sch 1000 inhalation. The lung function was improved in asthmatics. There were no significant differences in pulse and blood eosinophils before and after inhalation among both asthmatics and nonasthmatics.
2) In the group which inhalated acetylcholine only, cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP levels were much increased and lung function grew worse in asthmatics.
3) In the group which inhalated acetylcholine after Sch 1000 was administered, cyclic GMP levels didn't increase due to the suppression effect of Sch 1000 inhalated. Lung function tests showed no significant changes, thus indicating the beneficial effect of Sch 1000.
4) These preliminary tests indicate that the etiology of air way hypersensitivity in asthmatics is derived from not only β-blockade but also cholinergic hypersensitivity, and cyclic nucleotides are closly related with the causes of the hypersensitivity.
