Effects of inhaled glaucine on pulmonary responses to antigen in sensitized guinea pigs.

The alkaloid (S)-(+)-1,2,9,10-tetramethoxyaporphine (glaucine) is a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor with bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. In this study, we examined the in vivo effects of glaucine on an animal model of asthma. In ovalbumin sensitized guinea pigs, inhaled glaucine (10 mg ml(-1), 3 min) inhibited the acute bronchoconstriction produced by aerosol antigen (antigen response was 256+/-42 and 95+/-14 cm H(2)O l(-1) s(-1) in control and glaucine-treated animals, respectively; P<0.05). Pretreatment with glaucine (10 mg ml(-1), 10 min inhalation, 30 min pre- and 3 h post-antigen exposure) markedly reduced airway hyperreactivity to histamine, eosinophil lung accum…