Durkes Abigail, Sivasankar M Preeti
Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2017 Nov 9;60(11):3171-3176. doi: 10.1044/2017_JSLHR-S-17-0040.
This research note describes an adapted experimental methodology to administer an exogenous agent to the larynx and upper airway of awake animals. The exogenous agent could be a perturbation. In the current study, the agent was isotonic saline. Isotonic saline was selected because it is safe, of similar composition to extracellular fluid, and used in voice studies. The described approach allowed large animals such as pigs to be comfortably restrained without chemical sedation or anesthesia for extended periods while receiving the agent.
Six Sinclair pigs were successfully trained with positive reinforcement to voluntarily enter and then be restrained in a Panepinto Sling. Once restrained, the pigs accepted a nose cone that delivered nebulized isotonic saline. This procedure was repeated 3 times per day for 20 days. At the end of the study, the larynx and airway tissues were excised and examined using histology and transmission electron microscopy.
Pathology related to the procedure (i.e., nebulized inhaled isotonic saline or stress) was not identified in any examined tissues.
This methodology allowed for repeated application of exogenous agents to awake, unstressed animals. This method can be used repeatedly in the laboratory to test various therapeutics for safety, toxicity, and dosage. Future studies will specifically manipulate the type of agent to further our understanding of laryngeal pathobiology.
本研究报告描述了一种经过改良的实验方法，用于向清醒动物的喉部和上呼吸道施用外源性物质。该外源性物质可以是一种干扰因素。在本研究中，该物质为等渗盐水。选择等渗盐水是因为它安全、成分与细胞外液相似，且用于嗓音研究。所描述的方法允许在不使用化学镇静剂或麻醉剂的情况下，长时间舒适地限制大型动物（如猪）的活动，同时给予该物质。
对六只辛克莱猪进行了成功的正强化训练，使其自愿进入并被限制在Panepinto吊带中。一旦被限制，猪会接受一个输送雾化等渗盐水的鼻锥。该程序每天重复3次，持续20天。在研究结束时，切除喉部和气道组织，并使用组织学和透射电子显微镜进行检查。
在任何检查的组织中均未发现与该程序（即雾化吸入等渗盐水或应激）相关的病理变化。
该方法允许对清醒、无应激的动物重复施用外源性物质。该方法可在实验室中反复使用，以测试各种治疗方法的安全性、毒性和剂量。未来的研究将具体操控物质的类型，以进一步加深我们对喉病理生物学的理解。
