A New Model of Experimental Allergic Rhinitis Using Japanese Cedar Pollen in Guinea Pigs

Abstract

ABSTRACT-In the majority of the models of experimental allergic rhinitis, antigen challenge has been performed by single topical instillation or perfusion with the solution. The present study was performed to establish a good model using Japanese cedar pollen, which is able to repeatedly induce allergy restricted to the upper airway. Guinea pigs sensitized with the pollen extracts were subjected to quantitative and repeated inhaling of the pollen with a devised apparatus. Following the respective challenges, the nasal cavity was washed with a new technique: Washing with physiologic saline was performed from one nostril to the other one, the latter of which was kept under slightly reduced pressure. When the animal was subjected to cedar pollen inhalation, almost all the pollens inhaled were located in the upper airway. At the 5th inhalation, nasal cavity lavage revealed that both albumin leakage and histamine release into the nasal cavity were in creased at maximum levels in 1 hr (respectively 2 mg and 3 ng/animal); and at the same time, a considerable number of leukocytes, especially eosinophils, were found migrating into the nasal cavity for at least 10 hr. The present methods can permit various analyses of allergic rhinitis and the assessment of drugs without sacrificing the animal over the long term.

Aggravation of Allergic Rhinitis by Air Pollution: Demonstration by an Animal Model of Pollenosis

“…Consequently, Cry j 1-specific IgE antibody level was increased during the repeated pollen challenges (Fig. 1, lower left panel) (Nabe, 1997a(Nabe, , 2005. In addition, after respective pollen challenges, sneezing was induced within 1 h after a challenge (Nabe, 1998).…”

“…We have established an experimental allergic rhinitis model in sensitized guinea pigs, using Japanese cedar pollen as the antigen (Nabe, 1997a(Nabe, , 1998). This experimental model has been used to assess whether short and long-term daily treatment with pyrenes, BaP and 1-NP aggravate antigen-induced sneezing and nasal blockage (Mizutani, 2007).…”

“…1 (upper panel), guinea pigs were intranasally sensitized with the pollen extract+Al(OH) 3 , and then intranasally challenged by a quantitative inhalation of the pollen once a week for several months (Nabe, 1997a). After the respective pollen challenge periods, the allergen-specific IgE antibody level in serum was measured, sneezing frequency was counted, and the degree of nasal blockage was assessed by measuring specific airway resistance (sRaw) using a double-flow plethysmograph system.…”

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Aggravate Antigen-Induced Nasal Blockage in Experimental Allergic Rhinitis

“…To prevent rapid elimination of the antigen by ciliary movement, the upper airway mucosal surface was anesthetized before each sensitization by administering a 5-min inhalation of a mist of 4% lidocaine hydrochloride solution that was generated by an ultrasonic nebulizer (NE-U12; Omron, Osaka). The sensitized animals were then intranasally challenged by inhalation of cedar pollen once a week for 26 weeks by using a handmade inhalation apparatus (15).…”

Comparison of Cedar Pollen-Induced Allergic Rhinitis in Passively and Actively Sensitized Guinea Pigs

“…Following intranasal active sensitization by instillation with pollen extracts and aluminum hydroxide adjuvant, levels of antigen-specific anaphylactic antibodies in the serum increase, and frequent sneezes and biphasic nasal blockage develop in proportion to the number of pollen inhalation challenges (6,7). Furthermore, the nasal blockage response of sensitized animals to intranasal instillation of not only histamine (8) but also leukotriene (LT) D4 (9) appears to be enhanced in proportion to the number of challenges.…”