Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 77 (1), 89-98 (1998)


Difference in Inhibitory Effects of Dexamethasone and Cyclosporin A on Sephadex Bead-Induced Airway Hyperresponsiveness and Inflammation in Rats

Shigeki Matsubara, Keiko Fushimi, Hideo Kikkawa, Kazuaki Naito and Katsuo Ikezawa



Lead Optimization Research Laboratory, Tanabe Seiyaku, Co., Ltd., Toda, Saitama 335-8505, Japan


Abstract: We investigated the effects of dexamethasone and cyclosporin A on Sephadex bead (Sephadex G-200, Sephadex)-induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and inflammation in rats. Sephadex (0.5 mg/animal) was intravenously administered on days 0, 2 and 5. Bronchoalveolar lavage, histological study and measurement of AHR were performed on day 7. Dexamethasone (0.1, 1 and 10 mg/kg, p.o. x 3) and cyclosporin A (0.1, 1 and 10 mg/kg, s.c. x 3) clearly inhibited the increase in eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after Sephadex injection. On histological study, pulmonary eosinophilia, granulomatous arteritis with horseshoe-shaped multinuclear giant cell formation and goblet hyperplasia were observed after Sephadex injection. Both dexamethasone (10 mg/kg x 3) and cyclosporin A (10 mg/kg x 3) inhibited these findings and an increase in eosinophil peroxidase in the lung. Dexamethasone dose-dependently inhibited AHR induced by Sephadex, and completely suppressed it at a dose of 1 mg/kg ( x 3). Cyclosporin A, however, did not inhibit AHR even at a dose of 10 mg/kg ( x 3). These results show that there is a difference between dexamethasone and cyclosporin A in the inhibitory effect on Sephadex-induced AHR, and they suggest that eosinophils are not directly associated with the development of AHR after Sephadex injection.

Keywords: Sephadex bead, Dexamethasone, Cyclosporin A, Eosinophil, Airway hyperresponsiveness


Copyright© The Japanese Pharmacological Society 1998

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