Effects of nesosteine on Herxheimer microshock in guinea-pigs.

In this paper we firstly report the inhibitory effect of nesosteine, a mucolytic drug, on Herxheimer microshock in guinea-pigs. Nesosteine (5-50 mg/kg) is able to protect sensitized animals from ovalbumin-induced bronchospasm. On the other hand, the drug is ineffective against the bronchospasm induced by histamine and acetylcholine. These results have also been confirmed in in vitro experiments where it has been demonstrated that nesosteine (10(-5) M) inhibits ovalbumin-induced histamine release in the trachea of sensitized animals. In the same preparation, the drug is ineffective against the contractions induced by histamine or acetylcholine. In conclusion, the drug presented here may be helpful in pathological conditions where reductions both of mucolysis and bronchospasm are sought.