In vivo and in vitro studies on alpha-receptors in human airways; potentiation with bacterial endotoxins.

CHEST, VOL. 63, NO. 4, APRIL 1973 SUPPLEMENT sone; 2 ) systemic corticosteroid administration restores the responsiveness of adenyl cyclase to betaadrenergic stimulation; 3 ) systemic corticosteroids inhibit the increased ATPase activity, possibly with a concomitaiit decrease in transport, contractile and secretory processes; and 4 ) corticosteroids at high levels may inhibit cyclic A vIP phosphodiesterase activity. The data also suggest that the therapeutic use of alpha-adrenergic blocking agents such as phentolamine, shown to be effective against asthma in Europe,9 should be studied clinically.