Two series of experiments were carried out to determine whether the release of tachykinins
is involved in the bronchoconstriction induced by inhalation of cigarette smoke in guinea
pigs. In the first series, cigarette smoke consistently induced bronchoconstriction (ΔRl=+
203% and ΔCdyn=− 46%) in anesthetized guinea pigs, and the response was only partially
blocked by bilateral cervical vagotomy. However, the smoke-induced bronchial constriction
was completely abolished in animals receiving a systemic capsaicin pretreatment to destroy …