Phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor attenuates cough response in a sensitized guinea pig model

AIM: To investigate the effects of selective phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor olprinone on cough response in guinea pigs sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin.METHODS: Forty sensitized guinea pigs were randomly divided into control (n=10), challenged (n=10), olprinone (n=10) and aminophylline group (n=10). Two hours after challenged with the aerosol of 1% ovalbumin or saline, animals were intraperitoneally injected either with saline, 25 mg/kg of olprinone or 25 mg/kg aminophylline. At 24 h, the injection was repeated with 2.5 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg olprinone or 2.5 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg aminophylline respectively in olprinone and aminophylline group, cough response to inhaled capsaicin and airway responsiveness to methacholine (PC150) were measured. Then, total cell number and differential counts were analyzed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. RESULTS: The cough frequency was (5±2) times/3 min in control group and (24±3) times/3 min in challenged group (P<0.05), while PC150 was (659±57) mg/L in control group and (238±67) mg/L in challenged group (P<0.05). 25 mg/kg olprinone significantly inhibited the augmented cough response and airway hyperresponsiveness, the cough frequency and PC150 were (15±2) times/3 min and (580±45) mg/L (P<0.05), which differed significantly from (18±2) times/3 min and (438±52) mg/L in aminophilline group (P<0.05). However, olprinone failed to reverse the elevated total cell number and percentage of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from guinea pigs challenged with ovalbumin (P>0.05).CONCLUSION: Phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor attenuates cough response associated with eosinophilic airway inflammation by bronchodilatory effect.