flutropium-bromide and Asthma

Effects of flutropium bromide, a new bronchodilator with an anticholinergic action, alone or in combination with other antiasthma drugs were investigated in guinea pigs by using an index of inhibition of the acetylcholine (ACh)-induced bronchoconstriction. Single inhalation of flutropium bromide (0.0003%) into the airways of guinea pigs inhibited the ACh (i.v.)-induced bronchoconstriction without changing the fall in blood pressure induced by ACh. When salbutamol (3 micrograms/kg, i.v.), aminophylline (5 mg/kg, i.v.) or disodium cromoglycate (10 mg/kg, i.v.) was administered in combination with flutropium bromide (0.0003%), bronchodilation was enhanced as compared with single administration of the respective antiasthma drugs. From the above results, it is indicated that inhalation of flutropium bromide provides a more efficient bronchodilation in combination with other antiasthma drugs that possess different mechanisms of antiasthma effects.

Topics: Acetylcholine; Administration, Inhalation; Albuterol; Aminophylline; Animals; Asthma; Atropine Derivatives; Cromolyn Sodium; Drug Therapy, Combination; Guinea Pigs; Histamine H1 Antagonists; Injections, Intravenous; Male

The effects of flutropium bromide (Ba598Br), a new antiasthma drug possessing the quarternary ammonium structure of atropine derivatives, on mediator release from mast cells and on actions of leukotriene (LT) D4 and serotonin were investigated. Flutropium bromide (3 and 10 mg/kg, i.v.) showed an inhibitory action on the 48 hr homologous PCA in guinea pigs. Atropine showed no inhibitory effect. Flutropium bromide also inhibited the release of histamine from isolated rat mast cells stimulated by antigen, although the inhibitory action was weaker than that of disodium cromoglycate. Atropine also had no inhibitory action in this case. Flutropium bromide and atropine showed no antagonistic action against LTD4-induced contraction of isolated tracheal smooth muscle of guinea pigs. Inhalation of flutropium bromide (0.3%) also showed no antagonistic action against serotonin-induced bronchoconstriction in dogs. From the above results, it is indicated that flutropium bromide has a weak mast cell stabilizing action, but no antagonistic action against LTD4 and serotonin.

Topics: Animals; Asthma; Atropine; Atropine Derivatives; Chromones; Dogs; Guinea Pigs; Histamine H1 Antagonists; Histamine Release; Male; Mast Cells; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Serotonin Antagonists; SRS-A

The effects of Ba598Br, a new atropine derivative possessing a quarternary ammonium salt structure, on the canine airway, including its antiasthmatic effects, were investigated. The in vivo airway resistance was determined using the modified Konzett-Rössler method. Inhalation of 0.01% of Ba598Br had an inhibitory effect against acetyl-choline (ACh, 10 micrograms/kg i.v.)-evoked bronchoconstriction. The effect of Ba598Br was more powerful and longer lasting than that of the same dose of atropine. Pretreatment with Ba598Br (0.3%) and atropine (0.3%) by inhalation produced a remarkable inhibitory effect on the asthmatic bronchoconstriction induced by inhalation of Ascaris suum antigen in naturally sensitized dogs. In this case, Ba598Br showed a potency of approx. twice that of atropine as estimated from the inhibitory percent. On the other hand, in the case of posttreatment (drugs being inhaled after the antigen inhalation), both drugs showed inhibitory effects of equal degree. As for the effects on increased airway secretion at the time of asthmatic attack, both drugs inhibited the excessive secretions without any remarkable change in the viscosity of the secretions. Inhalation of 0.3% Ba598Br showed a powerful antihistamine action with respect to histamine (Hist, 3 micrograms/kg i.v.)-induced bronchoconstriction after the bilateral cervical vagi and superior laryngeal nerves were amputated. However, almost no effect could be observed with the same dose of atropine. Both Ba598Br and atropine showed relaxing actions of the same degree against ACh contraction on the isolated canine trachea, bronchus and bronchiole preparations, with a particularly strong relaxation being observed in the bronchiole. On the other hand, Ba598Br showed relaxing actions against histamine-induced contractions, which were more powerful than those of atropine, in the bronchus and bronchiole. From the above findings, it is suggested that the Ba598Br inhalation brings about antiasthmatic effects by its persistent, powerful anticholinergic actions and its transient but powerful antihistamine actions.

Topics: Animals; Antigens; Asthma; Atropine; Atropine Derivatives; Bronchi; Dogs; Histamine H1 Antagonists; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Parasympatholytics; Trachea; Vagus Nerve