[Microfluorimetric study of the effect of almitrine bismesylate (Vectarion) on intrapulmonary neuroepithelial bodies].

As Almitrine bismesylate is a potent peripheral chemo-receptor stimulant we have studied its action, after intra-peritoneal injection, on the intra-neuro-epithelial bodies (NEB) of 24 young rabbits (4 to 17 days old) measuring the intensity of the cytoplasmic fluorescence. The administration of Almitrine bismesylate in pharmacological doses provoked a marked rise (around 25%) in the intensity of fluorescence of NEB compared to a placebo group, indicating a raised cytoplasmic concentration of serotonin. These observations show that Almitrine bismesylate, in stimulating all the peripheral chemo-receptors equally, influences the NEB at the same time corroborating the intra-pulmonary chemoreceptor mature of the latter. The mechanism of action of Almitrine bismesylate on the NEB remains unexplained at a cellular level. Some supplementary studies are planned to elucidate these aspects.