Prevention and Reversal of Inspired Water Content-Induced Increased Airway Resistance

Abstract

Airway resistance in rats increased when the water content of inspired air was greater than 16g/m³ due to nebulized tap or distilled water. This increase was prevented by atropine intravenously, aerosolized ethanol and bilateral cervical vagotomy. Intravenously administered epinephrine did not prevent water content-induced increases in airway resistance and, if administered after increases in airway resistance had occurred, caused a decrease which was analogous to that caused by time alone. Atropine intravenously, aerosolized ethanol and bilateral cervical vagotomy rapidly reversed the water content-induced increases in airway resistance. The possible causes of water content-induced airway resistance increase are discussed