Anti-anaphylactic Action of Acetylsalicylate in Guinea Pig Lung

Abstract

HISTAMINE, plasma kinins and slow-reacting substance (SRS-A) are released or produced in anaphylaxis^1–3. In the guinea pig, intravenous injection of each of these substances causes bronchoconstriction^4,5. The bronchoconstriction induced by kinins or SRS-A is readily prevented by acetylsalicylic acid or its salts (acetylsalicylate), but not by mepyramine; whereas that induced by histamine is prevented by mepyramine, but not by acetylsalicylate^4–7. These facts suggest that both drugs together might protect guinea pigs against anaphylactic bronchoconstriction and that each drug separately might have a partial protective action. Although mepyramine has been shown to exert some protection^6,8, previous attempts have failed to show that acetylsalicylate⁶ or salicylate^9,10 were effective. Stresemann¹¹ has recently reported that amidopyrine, phenazone and phenylbutazone partially protected guinea pigs against an aerosol of antigen; but large doses of drug were needed and he considered the effect non-specific. The present communication describes a fuller investigation of the action of acetylsalicylate against anaphylactic bronchoconstriction in the guinea pig.