[Effects of inhaled bromhexine on the bronchomotor tone in rats and guinea pigs].

Bromhexine has been widely used as a mucolytic expectorant. Clinically, bromhexine is sometimes administered by inhalation. However, the effect of bromhexine by inhalation on bronchial musculature has not been documented. In the present study, the effect of inhaled bromhexine on bronchomotor tone in rats and guinea pigs was investigated. The bronchomotor tone was measured by a modified Konzett-Rössler method, and ventilation overflow (VO) was continuously recorded as an index of airway resistance. In rats, inhalation of bromhexine (0.1% and 0.2%, pH 5.3) caused no change in VO. At 0.2%, bromhexine slightly decreased systemic blood pressure (BP). In guinea pigs, bromhexine had no significant effect on VO at 0.2%, and it produced a significant but very slight increase at 0.1%. BP was slightly decreased by inhalation of bromhexine (0.1% and 0.2%, pH 5.3). N-Acetyl-L-cysteine, a cysteine-mucolytic (20%, pH 6.8), had no effect on VO and BP in either species. Inhalation of 0.1% bromhexine solution at pH 2.5, which was dissolved in tartaric acid solution, significantly increased VO, because of its acidity. From the above results, it is suggested that when the pH of the solution is considered, bromhexine has no or almost negligible effect on airway smooth muscles, and it may be useful as an effective mucolytic.