The effect of amitriptyline on pulmonary ventilation and mechanics in both intact and vagotomized dogs was investigated. Injection of amitriptyline, 2.5 mg/kg i.v., caused bronchodilation of short duration and marked inhibition of serotonin- or histamine-induced bronchoconstriction for a period up to two hours. This inhibitory effect persisted after vagotomy. Tachypnea followed each injection of amitriptyline and this was abolished by vagotomy. The mechanism of the different actions of the drug on the respiratory system is discussed.
Key-Words Amitriptyline - Respiration - Breathing - Lungs - Asthma
This study was supported in part by a grant from the Joint Research Fund of the Hebrew University — Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.