Pharmacological modulation of the respiratory and haematological changes accompanying active anaphylaxis in the guinea-pig.

The intrathoracic accumulation of radiolabelled platelets was recorded in anaesthesized, sensitized guinea-pigs concomitantly with changes in airways resistance during active anaphylaxis. Antigen challenge induced an increased airway resistance associated with intrathoracic platelet accumulation, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. Bronchoconstriction, but not the haematological changes, was modified by a combination of mepyramine, methysergide and aspirin. The addition of FPL 55712 and PGI2 to this cocktail of drugs additionally inhibited the thrombocytopenia and leukopenia but not the intrathoracic accumulation of platelets induced by antigen challenge. PGI2 was alone able to significantly inhibit the intrathoracic platelet accumulation, but not the bronchoconstriction induced by antigen challenge. These results suggest that active anaphylaxis is associated with activation of blood elements and subsequent pulmonary entrapment of platelets but that the platelet release reaction rather than the embolisation of platelet aggregates is the critical step in the induction of allergic bronchoconstriction in the guinea-pig.