Interactions of a water extract of cotton bract with dog isolated airway smooth muscle.

The inhalation of cotton dust by cotton-mill workers causes byssinosis, a disease characterized by chest tightness and other symptoms indicative of bronchoconstriction. In the present study the dog isolated trachealis smooth muscle preparation was employed to examine the ability of a crude, water extract of cotton bracts (CBE) to (1) cause contractile responses mediated by receptors, (2) modify responses of the tissue to a number of excitatory and inhibitory agents, and (3) alter responsiveness of the preparations to electrical field stimulation mediated by intrinsic cholinergic, excitatory nerves and adrenergic, inhibitory nerves. CBE evoked contraction of the tissues by an action that did not involve muscarinic, histamine, or 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. The maximum tissue responses to exogenous histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and isoproterenol were enhanced significantly in the presence of CBE, while those to KCl and methacholine were unaffected. The sensitivities (EC50 values) of the tissues to these agents were not, however, altered by CBE. Contractions induced by cholinergic nerve stimulation were increased in the presence of CBE, via a mechanism that appears, at present, to result from a prejunctional facilitation of acetycholine release. Relaxations to adrenergic nerve stimulation were not affected by CBE. Results suggest that, in addition to its direct, contractile activity, CBE can alter indirectly the responsiveness of the tissue to a number of endogenous mediator substances. Intrinsic, cholinergic excitatory nerves may be a target for the acute action of CBE as well.