As a study director, Sandra works routinely on pre-clinical models such as PAH and COPD. Over the past three years she and her team have developed the implantation method of pressure telemetry probes in rats.
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Allergic Rhinitis
Purpose
To induce nasal congestion in a rodent model.
Method
Allergic stimulus is characterized by early phase response (EPR) and late phases response (LPR). EPR occurs within minutes of exposure to the allergen and tend to produce sneezing, itching, and clear rhinorrhea; this episode lasts for 5 to 30 minutes, and then wanes. The LPR occurs 6 to 24 hours after local allergen challenge of subjects characterized by congestion, fatigue, and irritability.
In the allergic rhinitis mice model, enumerating the frequency of nasal rubbing and sneezes is a subjective but useful measure, especially for testing the EPR and therapies involving histamine- and leukotriene-dependent pathways. A change in respiratory frequency is a physiologically relevant parameter that has recently been used to estimate nasal obstruction. Decreases in respiratory frequency have been used as a surrogate marker in the EPR and LPR as mice are obligated nasal breathers.
Study outcome
- Whole-Body plethysmograph (respiratory function; nasal resistance (PenH); sneezing)
- Eosinophil infiltration in nasal mucosa
- Serum level of allergen-specific IgE
- Serum and nasal lavage Th2 cytokines (IL4, IL5 and IL13) and Th1 cytokines (IFN-y, IL12)
Compliance
Non-GLP compliant. The study is generally used in discovery-phase preclinical research.
Species
Mice
Sandra Gagnon
Study Director
