Cholinergic responses in EFS-triggered airway contraction.

<p>The PCLS from either rats (n = 5) (<b>A</b>), sheep (n = 4) (<b>B</b>), marmosets (n = 5) (<b>C</b>) or human (n = 4) (<b>D</b>) were stimulated repeatedly at F = 50 Hz, B = 1 ms, A = 200 mA, TW = 2.5 s, TR = 60 s for 3.3 min, i.e. 4×EFS. As control, the first stimulation (1^st EFS) was always carried out without any cholinergic interference. In subsequent EFS separated by at least 15 min to the preceding stimulation, neostigmine and/or atropine were added to augment or inhibit cholinergic airway contraction. The response in each single PCLS before and after treatment is plotted and matched to each other by a line *, p<0.05 and **, p<0.01 for atropine <i>vs.</i> no atropine (paired t-test). <b>E.</b> To prove cholinergic responses in guinea pig (n = 6), PCLS were electrically stimulated once (F = 50 Hz, B = 1 ms, A = 200 mA, TW = 2.5 s) either after pre-incubation with atropine or without interference. The mean with SEM is indicated by the horizontal line and the error bars, respectively. ***, p<0.001 in unpaired t-test.