Effect of Dexamethasone on Rat Respiratory Pathways

It has been shown that a short-term application (10-15 min) of dexamethasone at a concentration of 1.0 µg/ml decreases the muscular contraction amplitude of the trachea and large bronchi to 76.2 ± 3.5% and increases the dilatational effect of histamine (1.0 µg/ml) to 47.4 ± 8.1% at stimulation of pre- and postganglionic nerve fibers. Atropine eliminates completely the effect of dexamethasone on the respiratory tract preparation at the stimulation of pre- and postganglionic nerve fibers. The ganglioblocker decreases the dilatational effect at a simultaneous application of atropine and dexamethasone from 47.4 ± 8.1 to 67.2 ± 5.3%. It is concluded that the dexamethasone effect is due to its action on tracheobronchial epithelial receptors and that this effect is mediated by intramural ganglionic neurons.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]