NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Pharmacologic effects of grain weevil extract on isolated guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle.

Authors
Schachter EN; Zuskin E; Arumugam U; Goswami S; Castranova V; Whitmer M; Chiarelli A
Source
Lung 2008 Oct; 186(5):317-321
NIOSHTIC No.
20034635
Abstract
The grain weevil, an insect (pest) that infects grain, is a frequent contaminant of processed wheat, and its presence may contribute to respiratory abnormalities in grain workers. We studied the in vitro effects of an extract of grain weevil (GWE) on airway smooth muscle. Pharmacologic studies included in vitro challenge of guinea pig trachea with GWE, in parallel organ baths, pretreated with mediator-modifying agents or a control solution. Dose-related contractions of nonsensitized guinea pig trachea (GPT) were demonstrated using this extract. Pharmacologic studies were performed by pretreating guinea pig tracheal tissue with drugs known to modulate smooth muscle contraction: atropine, indomethacin, pyrilamine, acivicin, NDGA, BPB, TMB8, captopril, and capsaicin. Atropine, pyrilamine, BPB, and capsaicin significantly reduced the contractile effects of the extract at most of the challenge doses (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). Inhibition of GWE-induced contraction by blocking of other mediators was less complete. We suggest that GWE causes dose-related airway smooth muscle constriction of the GPT by nonimmunologic mechanisms involving a variety of airway mediators and possibly cholinergic receptors.
Keywords
Pharmacology; Farmers; Agricultural-industry; Agricultural-workers; Agriculture; Respiratory-system-disorders; Insects; Contaminated-food; Breathing; Breathing-zone; Respiratory-irritants; Respiratory-hypersensitivity; Lung-irritants; Laboratory-animals; Laboratory-testing; Pharmacodynamics; Dose-response; Airway-resistance
Contact
E. Neil Schachter, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029-6574
CODEN
LUNGD9
Publication Date
20081001
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
neil.schachter@mssm.edu
Fiscal Year
2009
Issue of Publication
5
ISSN
0341-2040
NIOSH Division
HELD
Priority Area
Manufacturing
Source Name
Lung
State
WV; NY
Page last reviewed: May 11, 2023
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Information Division