Abstract
Asthmatic attacks in normal guinea pigs provoked by intravenous injection (i. v.) of antibodies to guinea pig IgE were examined by Mead's apparatus which was able to measure pulmonary function without operation or anesthesia. The asthma showed similar changes of pulmonary pattern or pulmonary resistance with asthma provoked by inhalation of antigens to normal guinea pigs passively sensitized with IgE antibodies to the antigens.
Following a 2-minute inhalation of 25mg/ml or 10mg/ml disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) solution, 4 out of 5 guinea pigs showed no sign of asthma after anti IgE i. v. injection which was performed 15 minutes after inhalation of DSCG. In contrast, 5 guinea pigs to which a 2.5mg/ml DSCG solution or physiological saline was administered, developed asthma following i. v. injection of anti IgE. A 2-minute inhalation of DSCG did not cause a change in bronchial response to histamine in guinea pigs. This is the first report showing prophylactic effectiveness of DSCG in guinea pig asthma.
Thus, our system seems to be useful for examination of antiasthmatic agents.
