Bronchospasm induced by methacholine inhalation as a model for testing of bronchospasmolytics in healthy volunteers.

Provocation tests with acetylcholine, methacholine, histamine and carbachol are used as models for measuring bronchospasmolytics in patients with bronchial hyperreactivity. The possibilities of the methacholine provocation test for the measurement of bronchospasmolytic agents in healthy volunteers have been examined. The relevance of this method will be shown by the example of the effects of two beta 2-mimetics in comparison to placebo. Under placebo conditions, methacholine provocation resulted in an increase of bronchial resistance of approximately 200% in volunteers. The various dosages of the two test substances showed a clear, dose-related bronchospasmolysis. The described method can be used as a model of investigation for testing bronchospasmolytics in healthy volunteers.