Hypertonic saline induced bronchoconstriction in sensitized rabbits

Hypertonic saline is a potent stimulus to airway narrowing in most asthmatic patients. However, the mechanism of airway narrowing induced by a change in osmolarity is not clearly understood. In ovalbumin-sensitized rabbits, we found that bronchoconstriction occurred after inhalation of hypertonic saline, and then studied the mechanisms responsible for this bronchoconstriction. Eighteen anesthetized, paralyzed, mechanically ventilated (40 breath/min, TV 7 ml/kg) ovalbumin-sensitized rabbits were exposed to aerosols of hypertonic saline (ultrasonic nebulizer, 0.5 ml/min, 1 min). Total lung resistance (RL) and dynamic compliance (Cdyr) of the lung were measured before and after the exposure. The concentration of NaCl was increased from 0.9% to 7.2% in 0.9% steps. RL increased and Cdyr decreased as the dose of NaCl rose and they reached plateaus at doses of 6.3% and 7.2%, respectively. These responses were markedly inhibited by treatment with atropine (5 mg/kg i.v., p < 0.05 vs. control group), but treatment with chlorpheniramine (1 mg/kg iv.) suppressed the responses only at low concentrations of NaCl. In contrast, treatment with indomethacin, did not significantly change the responses. We conclude that inhalation of hypertonic saline can cause bronchoconstriction in sensitized rabbits, and that vagal stimulation plays a major role in this bronchoconstriction.