An airway hyperresponsiveness model in rat allergic asthma.

We attempted to obtain a new airway hyperresponsiveness model using DNP-Ascaris extract (DNP-Asc)-induced rat allergic asthma. Male Wistar rats were actively sensitized with DNP-Asc, and challenged in a non-anesthetized state by inhalation of the antigen for 10 min in a chamber. One, 6 and 24 hr after DNP-Asc challenge, the responsiveness of the airway smooth muscles to inhaled acetylcholine (ACh) was determined using a modified Konzett-Rössler method under anesthesia. Twenty four hr after the challenge, a significant and marked airway hyperresponsiveness was seen. The increase in airway responsiveness was significantly inhibited by pretreatments with a leukotriene antagonist, ONO-1078, and a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, ozagrel, and tended to be inhibited by a PAF antagonist, CV-3988. The hyperresponsiveness induced by DNP-Asc challenge was accompanied by airway inflammation determined by dye exudation. From the above results, it is indicated that a model of airway hyperresponsiveness was established in rats with allergic asthma, and that the chemical mediators involved in the response might be leukotrienes, thromboxane A2 and PAF.