PREJUNCTIONAL INHIBITORY-ACTION OF PROSTAGLANDIN-E2 ON EXCITATORY NEUROEFFECTOR TRANSMISSION IN THE HUMAN BRONCHUS

The effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and indomethacin on excitatory neuro-effector transmission in the human bronchus were investigated by tension recording and microelectrode methods. PGE2 (10-10-10-9M) suppressed the amplitude of twitch contractions and excitatory junction potentials (e.j.ps) evoked by field stimulation at a steady level of basal tension obtained by the combined application of indomethacin (10-5M) and FPL55712 (10-6M). In doses over 10-8M, PGE2 reduced the muscle tone and dose-dependently suppressed the amplitude of twitch contractions. Indomethacin (10-5 or 5 × 10-5M) reduced the muscle tone and enhanced the amplitude of twitch contractions and e.j.ps evoked by field stimulation in the presence of FPL55712. PGE2 (10-9M) had no effect on the post-junctional response of smooth muscle cells to exogenously applied acetylcholine (ACh) (4 × 10-7M). However, indomethacin (10-5M) significantly enhanced the ACh-induced contraction of the human bronchus. These results indicate that PGE2 in low concentrations has a pre-junctional action to inhibit excitatory neuro-effector transmission in addition to a post-junctional action, presumably by suppressing transmitter release from the vagus nerve terminals in the human bronchial tissues. © 1990.