Opioid receptors have been demonstrated on sensory fibres in the vagus nerve. Non-cholinergic (NC) neural bronchoconstriction in guinea-pig is due to release of neuropeptides from sensory nerve endings. We have therefore studied the effect of opioids on this NC bronchoconstriction in the anaesthetized guinea-pig. 2. Bilateral vagal stimulation (5 V, 5 ms, 10 Hz) caused reproducible bronchoconstriction in guinea-pigs which was reduced by atropine (1 mg kg-1), but the NC component was unaffected by hexamethonium (10 mg kg-1). 3. NC bronchoconstriction was reduced by morphine in a dose-dependent manner (ED50 = 132 micrograms kg-1 with a maximal inhibition of 79 +/- 2.1% at 1 mg kg-1). Yohimbine (0.5 mg kg-1) did not alter the inhibitory effect of morphine (1 mg kg-1). 4. The inhibitory effect of morphine was completely reversed by naloxone (1 mg kg-1) which had no effect on NC bronchoconstriction. Propranolol (1 mg kg-1) significantly increased the NC bronchoconstrictor response but did not significantly alter the inhibition by morphine. 5. The selective mu-opioid receptor agonist Tyr-(D-Ala)-Gly-(N-Me-Phe)-Glyol (DAGOL) was significantly more potent than morphine with an ED50 of 5.4 micrograms kg-1 and complete inhibition at 100 micrograms kg-1. The delta-agonist Tyr-(D-Pen)-Gly-Phe-(D-Pen) (DPDPE) was less potent than DAGOL with an ED50 of 28 micrograms kg-1 and a maximal inhibition of only 50 +/- 5% at 100 micrograms kg-1. The delta-agonist Tyr4D-Pen)-Gly-Phe-D-Pen) (DPDPE) was less potent than DAGOL with an ED5o of 28pgkg-1 and a maximal inhibition of only 50 + 5% at lOOPgkg- . The Kappa-receptor agonist, U-50,488H had no inhibitory effect on the NC bronchoconstrictor response. 6. The bronchoconstrictor responses to exogenous substance P (25 pgkg- 1) or acetylcholine (25 pg kg- 1) were unaffected by morphine (500 pg kg- 1). 7. We conclude that opioids inhibit the NC bronchoconstrictor response to vagal stimulation via an action on mu-opioid receptors localized to sensory nerve endings in the airway.
