Bronchial irritant receptors and a possible new action for cromolyn sodium.

Regardless of whether the stimulus to the airway is cold air, exercise, agents causing occupational asthma or sulphur dioxide the resulting bronchoconstriction is inhibited by prior treatment with cromolyn sodium, a drug thought to act only by preventing release of histamine from mast cells. Study of bronchial irritants, however, suggests that this drug may also act either directly on bronchial muscle or on irritant receptors.