Reduced effect of epinephrine on circulating eosinophils in asthma and after beta-adrenergic blockade or Bordetella pertussis vaccine. With a note on eosinopenia after methacholine

Abstract

These experiments were undertaken to clarify the role of adrenergic and cholinergic influences on the level of circulating eosinophils and to determine if the eosinophilia of pertussis sensitization and bronchial asthma might be relatively resistant to epinephrine. In rats, the beta-adrenergic blocker, propranolol, inhibited epinephrine-induced eosinopenia, but the alpha-adrenergic blocker, dibenamine, did not. Methacholine, like epinephrine, had an eosinopenic effect which was dependent on the adrenal gland and probably mediated by epinephrine and glucocorticoids. The eosinopenic effect of epinephrine was greatly reduced following injection of pertussis vaccine, the reduction being maximal 7 days after the vaccine. In man, the mean eosinopenic response of 9 asymptomatic asthmatic subjects was less than that of 9 normal persons. © 1970.