Pharmacological characterization of the rabbit lung strip.

Isolated rabbit lung parenchymal strips contracted to epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), phenylephrine (PE), histamine, carbachol, PGF2alpha, bradykinin and 5-HT. Lung strips which were maximally contracted to histamine, carbachol and PGF2alpha, relaxed to isoproterenol, salbutamol, terbutaline and PGE1 however, they exhibited superimposed contractions to E, NE and PE. Atropine and mepyramine selectively antagonized contractions to carbachol and histamine respectively, without modifying contractions to the sympathomimetic agents. Phenotolamine antagonized responses to E, NE and PE. The results of this investigation suggest the presence of alpha- and beta-adrenergic and H1-histamine receptors in the rabbit lung strip.