Prostaglandin F_2α increases responsiveness of pulmonary airways in dogs

We studied the effect of prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) on the responsiveness of pulmonary airways in dogs. Airway responsiveness was assessed by determining the bronchoconstrictor response to increasing concentrations of acetylcholine aerosol delivered to the airways. In each of five dogs, we determined responsiveness during treatment with physiologic saline, histamine, or PGF_2α aerosols. The doses of histamine and PGF_2α were determined by establishing the largest dose of each which could be given to the dog without causing bronchoconstriction (subthreshold doses). We found that airway responsiveness was not significantly different during histamine treatment than after saline, however, responsiveness increased during treatment with PGF_2α. In addition, the hyperresponsiveness induced by PGF_2α was prevented by pretreatment with the ganglion blocking drug hexamethonium (5 mg/kg given intravenously). The results show that PGF_2α specifically increases the responsiveness of pulmonary airways in doses that do not cause bronchoncostriction, and suggest that the hyperresponsiveness involves a neural mechanism such as increased responsiveness of airway sensory nerves.