Journal of applied physiology
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Bradykinin is released in the lungs in asthma and pulmonary anaphylaxis. It has negligible direct bronchoconstrictor effects in humans or dogs, but inhaled as aerosol it causes cough and reflex bronchoconstriction in asthmatics and some normal subjects. The afferent nerves responsible for these reflex effects have not been identified. ⋯ Bradykinin caused a small increase in firing of some rapidly adapting (irritant) receptors, but the effect appeared to be secondary to vascular changes. Bradykinin had variable effects on slowly adapting stretch receptors, but did not stimulate them directly. Thus vagally mediated sensory or reflex effects initiated by bradykinin in the lung are probably due to stimulation of "bronchial" C-fibers.