Plasma cyclic AMP levels in response to exercise and terbutaline sulphate aerosol in normal and asthmatic subjects.

A study was performed to investigate changes in plasma cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP), peak expiratory flow and arterial blood gas tensions in response to running exercise and terbutaline sulphate aerosol in asthmatic patients regularly receiving sympathomimetic bronchodilator aerosols. Seven normal subjects were controls. Placebo aerosol was administered 20 min before the first exercise study and 1.0-1.25 mg terbutaline sulphate substituted 20 min after the first test and again 20 min before the second test. Blood gas tensions, expiratory flow and cyclic AMP were measured at rest, during and after exercise. Exercise induced a significant increase in cyclic AMP in both asthmatic and normal subjects. The change in plasma levels was not significantly different between groups. Cyclic AMP values were higher at rest and during exercise with terbutaline sulphate compared with placebo for both groups. Terbutaline sulphate blocked the marked fall in peak expiratory flow and arterial oxygen tension observed in the asthmatic subjects following the first test. Values for cyclic AMP following exercise were not significantly different between asthmatic and normal subjects. In contrast to other reports our asthmatics have a marked increase in cyclic AMP in response to exercise and to a beta-sympathomimetic aerosol.