Fig. 5. Effects of sevoflurane on the carbachol (ED80)–enhanced airway muscle tone and increased intracellular concentration of free Ca2+([Ca2+]i) in control (cigarette-sham), ovalbumin-sensitized, and chronic cigarette-smoking groups. Data are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 6 each). * P < 0.05 versus each control value without sevoflurane. † P < 0.05 versus the values in other groups. MAC = minimum alveolar concentration. Similar to the data obtained for respiratory function parameters, in both the control and ovalbumin-sensitized groups, sevoflurane significantly and substantially inhibited muscle tension, concomitant with a decrease in [Ca2+]iin a dose-dependent manner. The anesthetic had a rather smaller but significant inhibitory effect on both muscle tension and [Ca2+]iin the chronic cigarette-smoking group.