Is the guinea pig trachea a good in vitro model of human large and central airways?
To analyze comprehensively the relevance of the guinea pig trachea as a model of human large and central airways, the contractile effects of the peptidoleukotrienes (LTs), histamine, methacholine and antigen on guinea pig and human airways were compared in vitro. Although some differences were apparent, LTC4, LTD4, LTE4, histamine and methacholine had comparable EC50 values and elicited similar maximal responses in both guinea pig trachea and human bronchus (second-seventh generation). In the presence of l-serine borate (45 mM), LTC4 concentration-response curves were shifted significantly to the left in guinea pig trachea but not in human bronchus. Furthermore, the LT receptor antagonists (SK&F 102922 and FPL 55712) had similar potencies against LTC4- and LTD4-induced contractions of human bronchus, whereas, in the guinea pig trachea, they were much more effective antagonists of responses produced by LTD4 than those elicited by LTC4. These results provide further evidence that, unlike
