[The effect of unintentional overdoses of pilocarpine on pulmonary surfactant in mice].

Pilocarpine, used in the treatment of glaucoma, shows basically parasympathomimetic activities and in contrast to choline derivatives an extremely potent effect on salivary and sweat glands and a noticeable increase of bronchial secretion. Investigations were carried out in mice to determine whether the administration of pilocarpine results in an increase of bronchial secretion as such or whether it likewise influences the secretion of surfactant, i.e., the phospholipoprotein responsible for the stability of the alveoli. Our experiments (P/V diagrams and histochemical staining) demonstrate that pilocarpine decreases the secretion of pulmonary surfactant. When pilocarpine and Ambroxol are administered the effects on the two parameters are similar to the controls. In other words, Ambroxol increases the secretion of surfactant even in cases of intoxication with pilocarpine.