The action of barbiturates on contractile responses of canine and feline bronchial smooth muscle.

Pentobarbitone, thiopentone and phenobarbitone in concentrations ranging from 10(-4) M to 10(-3) M reduced the contractile responses of isolated canine and feline trachealis muscle to electrical field stimulation without affecting contractile responses to acetylcholine. The order of potency was thiopentone, pentobarbitone and phenobarbitone. Experiments using carbachol and neostigmine or physostigmine suggested that the barbiturates act by preventing the release of acetylcholine from nerve endings. In vivo, pentobarbitone (2.5-20 mg/kg i.v.) produced dose-related reductions in the increase in total lung resistance induced by vagal stimulation in chloralose-anaesthetised cats.