Influence of bilateral subnodular vagotomy and section of retrotracheal plexus on allergic bronchial constriction in guinea pigs.

A bilateral subnodular vagotomy and a tracheal dissection with immediate readaptation (n = 18) or one of both (n = 8) was performed on ovalbumin sensitized guinea pigs. Control animals got a shame operation (n = 13). About one week later the animals were narcotized by ethylurethane 1.3 g per kg b.w. intraperitoneally and received a tracheotomy with insertion of a tracheal cannula and an additional insertion of a flexible catheter into the right jugular vein. Then the animals were artificially ventilated in a tank respirator by rhythmical exposure to a negative chest wall pressure, the ventilator settings were f = 20 per min, I: E = 1: 1, and rectangular pressure = -2 kPa. Breathing parameters were measured pneumotachographically. Flow, tidal volume, ECG and ventilation pressure were recorded with a 12-channel UV-light recorder. After the recording of initial parameters an intratracheal bolus-instillation of 0.5 mg/kg b.w. ovalbumin was given and 5 min later, a second ovalbumin bolus i.v. of 1 mg/kg b.w. Mean minimal tidal volumes reached after i.t. OA-provocation were: 17.6 +/- 19 in controls, 39.7 +/- 30 after vagotomy and tracheotomy, 40.5 +/- 20 after vagotomy alone, and 27.6 +/- 18 after tracheotomy alone. We found a significant inhibition of allergic bronchial constriction by bilateral vagotomy. The dissection of the retrotracheal plexus by tracheotomy was without significant effect on the allergic response. The investigation could demonstrate the significance of vagotomy on asthmatic reactions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)