The role of vagus nerve on histamine- and acetylcholine-induced bronchoconstriction (experiments on cats).

During administration of highly concentrated acetyclcholine and histamine aerosol (20-40 min), different effects on tidal volume, respiratory rate, and bronchial tone could be demonstrated. Inhalation after vagotomy neither showed changes in respiratory rate nor in tidal volume. These results point out the importance of the nervus vagus in case of bronchoconstriction caused by mediators. It is discussed to which degree vagus activity is required for the direct effect of different mediators in living animals.