The involvement of hydroxyl radical and cyclooxygenase metabolites in the activation of lung vagal sensory receptors by circulatory endotoxin in rats. J Appl Physiol 98: 620 -628, 2005. First published October 1, 2004; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00539.2004.-Circulatory endotoxin can stimulate vagal pulmonary C fibers and rapidly adapting receptors (RARs) in rats, but the underlying mechanisms are not clear. We investigated the involvement of hydroxyl radicals and cyclooxygenase metabolites in the stimulation of C fibers and RARs by circulatory endotoxin (50 mg/kg) in 112 anesthetized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated rats. In rats pretreated with the vehicle, endotoxin stimulated C fibers and RARs and caused a slight increase in total lung resistance (RL) and a decrease in dynamic lung compliance. In rats pretreated with dimethylthiourea (a hydroxyl radical scavenger) alone, indomethacin (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor) alone, or a combination of the two, C-fiber and RAR responses [C fiber: change (⌬) ϭ Ϫ62, Ϫ79, and Ϫ85%; RAR: ⌬ ϭ Ϫ80, Ϫ84, and Ϫ84%, respectively] were reduced, and the RL response was prevented. The suppressive effects of a combination of dimethylthiourea and indomethacin on the C-fiber and RAR responses were not superior to indomethacin alone. In rats pretreated with isoproterenol (a bronchodilator), the C-fiber response was not significantly affected (⌬ ϭ Ϫ26%), the RAR response was reduced (⌬ ϭ Ϫ88%), and the RL response was prevented. None of these pretreatments affected the dynamic lung compliance response. These results suggest that 1) both hydroxyl radicals and cyclooxygenase metabolites are involved in the endotoxin-induced stimulation of C fibers and RARs, and 2) the involvement of these two metabolites in the C-fiber stimulation may be due to their chemical effects, whereas that in the RAR stimulation may be due to their bronchoconstrictive effects. pulmonary C fibers; rapidly adapting receptors; reactive oxygen metabolites ENDOTOXEMIA CAUSES TACHYPNEA, leading to hyperventilation in septic shock patients (3, 4), but the causes are not completely understood. The tachypnea induced by circulatory endotoxin in rats is prevented by bilateral cervical vagotomy, suggesting that it is a vagally mediated respiratory reflex (42). Electrophysiological studies in rats have revealed that lung C-fiber nerve endings (C fibers) and pulmonary rapidly adapting receptors (RARs), two major types of lung vagal sensory receptors, are activated by circulatory endotoxin (21). Both lung C fibers and RARs play an important role in the detection of pulmonary pathophysiological conditions and eliciting resultant respiratory reflexes (9,25,40). The physiological characteristics of these two types of lung receptors are different (9,25,40). For example, lung C fibers are very sensitive to chemical stimuli (e.g., chemical mediators) but relatively insensitive to mechanical stimuli (e.g., bronchoconstriction). In contrast, RARs can be stimulated by chemical mediators and/or changes in lung mechanics. The mechanisms...