Respiratory and cardiovascular effects of prostaglandins in the conscious guinea pig.

A technique to assess respiratory and cardiovascular effects of prostaglandins (PGs) in conscious guinea pigs was developed. Animals were placed in a plethysmograph and tidal volume, airflow, and heart rate were recorded. In addition, blood pressure and/or pleural pressure were obtained. Some experiments involved the use of a pulmonary calculator that processed the appropriate pulmonary signal and provided on-line readout of dynamic compliance and airway resistance. Aerosolized antagonists were evaluated for their ability to block responses to aerosolized histamine. We found the relative antagonistic potencies of PGE1, PGE2, isoproterenol, and salbutamol to be 5.5, 2.3, 1 and 0.2, respectively. Aerosolized PGE1 and PGE2 but not PGF2alpha given prior to histamine caused decreases in tidal volume, airflow and heart rate. These effects were not seen in animals that were prepared for measurements involving invasive surgical techniques. The aerosolized PGE2 induced tidal volume changes were not prevented by pretreatment with salbutamol, chlorpheniramine, atropine or hexamethonium, though the latter two drugs inhibited the fall in heart rate. We suggest that the bradycardia following aerosolized PGE2 administration may originate from airway irritant receptors. The results validate use of our methods for the assessment of responses to bronchoactive agents under physiological conditions.