Nasal mucosal hypersensitivity in guinea pigs intermittently exposed to cold. |
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Authors: | A Namimatsu K Go T Hata |
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Institution: | Institute of Bio-Active Science, Nippon Zoki Pharmaceutical Company, Hyogo, Japan. |
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Abstract: | To develop an animal model for experimental nasal hypersensitivity and hyperreactivity, guinea pigs were subjected to intermittent exposure to cold temperature (intermittent cold stress, SART stress) for 5 consecutive days. In SART-stressed guinea pigs, nasal mucosal hypersensitivity to histamine evoking sneeze response and nasal hypersecretion in response to methacholine were observed. The hypersensitivity remained for further 7 days after being released from SART stress. On the other hand, such nasal mucosal hypersensitivity was not caused by a continuous cold stress alone, suggesting that intermittent exposure to cold may be of importance for the appearance of nasal mucosal hypersensitivity. In passively sensitized SART-stressed guinea pigs, the quantity of nasal secretion induced by an allergen was significantly increased compared with that of a group of normal animals. The expression of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (m-ACh.R) became higher in SART-stressed guinea pigs. Thus, hypersensitivity and hyperreactivity in this system were found to be associated with an increase in density of m-ACh.R. SART-stressed guinea pigs will serve as an animal model for hypersensitivity in nasal mucosa, which would be useful for the study of nasal allergy. |
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