Influence of Broncasma Berna ® on the Lower Airway of Guinea Pigs - Histological and Immunological Study

Abstract

Female Hartley guinea pigs (SPF) were divided into three groups. In the first group, Broncasma Berna®(B. B. ) solution was administered by Jet nebulization every day for one week and this treatment was repeated after an interval of seven days during a four-week period. In the second group,0.4% phenolsolution was administered acccording to the same schedule as the first group. The third group was the control group which received no treatment.
Histologically, the lower airway did not show any changes suggesting inflammation such as bronchitis following the administration of B. B. Anti-B. B. antibody could not be clearly detected either in serum or in bronchial washing by ELISA or PCA reaction.
On the other hand, the cells from paratracheal lymph nodes in the first gro u p exhibited a higher response to PHA than those in the other groups. Also, the culture medium of lung macrophages enhanced the proliferation of the fibroblasts.
The in vitro study with human blood leukoc y tes or with normal human nasal mucosa, enhanced expression of TNF a was observed after the administration of B. B.
These findings suggest that B. B. inhalation with Jet nebulization is safe a nd that B. B. influences the products of TNF a in the nasal mucosa.