Hyperresponsiveness to bronchoconstrictor agents in experimental animals treated with terbutaline and its effect on pancreatic beta cells.

Attempts have been made to obtain further experimental evidence in the development of hyperresponsiveness measured as mortality rate in terbutaline-treated animals after the administration of carbachol in rats and ovoalbumin in sensitized guinea pigs. The dose of terbutaline chosen was approximately the dose an asthmatic patient might use in an attack, and its effect on pancreatic insulin synthesis was studied in rats since it has been suggested that insulin is a pro-inflammatory hormone. Our results show that prolonged treatment with terbutaline increases the mortality from bronchoconstrictor stimuli. Increased levels of pancreatic insulin synthesis were also observed by immunocytochemical study carried out on pancreas from terbutaline-treated rats.