Effects of anti-asthma drugs on PAF-induced death in mice.

A number of anti-asthma drugs was assayed for the ability to protect mice from platelet-activating factor (PAF)-induced death, which has been suggested to be dependent on the bronchoconstrictive features of this autacoid. Salbutamol, dexamethasone, theophylline, ketotifen and zindotrine, administered parenterally, produced a dose-dependent protection, while forskolin, enprofylline, disodium cromoglycate, nedocromil, azelastine and antagonists of acetylcholine, histamine and serotonin were devoid of protective effects. Theophylline, contrary to salbutamol, lost its protective effects in adrenalectomized mice, suggesting that these effects are dependent on the release of adrenomedullary cathecolamines. Salbutamol, theophylline and dexamethasone, at doses capable of inhibiting PAF-induced death, did not affect PAF-induced haemoconcentration in mice, thus excluding widespread changes in vascular permeability as a major cause of death. These results are generally in agreement with the hypothesis that airway obstruction is an important determinant of PAF-induced death in mice.