ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of ipratropi um bromide and atropine on airway mucin hypersecretion in the chronic bronchiti s model of rats. Methods The model was established by intratrac heal instillation of small dose of lipopolysaccaride (200 μg) ipratropium bromi de and atropine were administrated 3-21 d after the model was established. Patho logical changes, mucin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and tracheal ring culture medium were examined before and after the adnsinistration of iprat ropium bromide and atropine. Results Characteristic pathologica l manifestions of chronic brochitis were found after instillation of LPS. Sig nificant decrease in the number of tracheal epithelia goblet cells, secretion of mucin were observed in ipratropium bromide and atropine treated rats. The eff ect of inhibiting the secretion of mucin of ipratropium bromide was higher than atropine. Conclusion It suggests that muscarinic acetylcholine receptor plays an important role in airway mucin hypersecretion in chronic bro nchitis model of rat. Ipratropium bromide exhibit a stronger inhibition effect on mucin hypersecretion than atropine, moreover no inhibition effect on mucocil iary clearance which was observed in atropine.