Anti IgE-induced asthma in guinea pigs; a new model for asthma. Physiological and pathological studies.

We established an experimental animal model for IgE-mediated asthma by the use of intravenous injection of rabbit anti guinea pig IgE in normal guinea pigs. The degree of asthmatic airway obstruction was quantitatively estimated by Mead's apparatus which enabled us to use unanesthetized guinea pigs. With the injection of anti IgE, only an early asthmatic response was observed. Inhalation of anti IgE did not trigger asthma. Histo-pathological changes in the lung obtained immediately after the injection of anti IgE resembled those reported in human asthma. This system may be used for pathological and pharmacological studies of the IgE-dependent early asthmatic response.