PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Iliona Malaspinas
AU  - Camille Doras
AU  - Aurélie Baudat
AU  - Xavier Belin
AU  - Ferenc Petak
AU  - Walid Habre
TI  - Role of the parasympathetic nervous system in the allergen-induced airway sensitization and lung responsiveness
DP  - 2014 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P3525
VI  - 44
IP  - Suppl 58
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P3525.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P3525.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2014 Sep 01; 44
AB  - Rational:While atropine pretreatment enhances allergen-induced bronchial hyperreactivity, the role of parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) on sensitization and lung responsiveness remains unclear. We characterized effects of chronic inhibition of the PNS on the ovalbumin (OVA)-induced lung inflammation and responsiveness to OVA challenge.Methods:Brown Norway rats (31) were randomly assigned to 5 groups summarized in figure. A subcutaneous pump for continuous infusion of atropine during 21 days was placed in two groups. Airway responsiveness to iv administration of 2 mg OVA was established at day 21 by forced oscillations following bilateral vagotomy. Lung cellularity was determined from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).Results:Percentage increase in airway resistance (Raw) following iv OVA was significantly higher in groups receiving atropine (fig.). Magnitude of airway responsiveness was lower in sensitized animals. While percentage of eosinophils in BALF increased in all sensitized animals with OVA aerosol, pretreated animals with atropine exhibited an increase in neutrophils (48% and 35% in groups 3 and 5, respectively, p=0.001).Conclusion:Inhibition of the PNS-related pathway potentiated inflammatory cell infiltration and allergen-induced bronchoconstriction. However, repeated sensitization may have diminished the immune response to allergen challenge.Supported by SNSF grant 332003B-143331/1.