[Omparative study on allergen assessment animal models in Brown Norway rat and guinea pig]

To compare the sensitivity of Brown Norway rats (BN) with Guinea pigs (GP) as allergen assessment animal models.

BN rats and GP were randomly assigned to 1 control group, 2 Bovine serum albumin group (BSA), respectively. Animals in BSA groups of BN rats and GPs were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of 0.6% BSA 1 ml on day 1, 3, 5, respectively, and irritated by intravenous injection of 2.4% BSA 1 ml on day 7 and day 14 after the last sensitization, while the same volume of normal saline was given to control group on each time point mentioned above. The allergic reactions were scored within 1 h after each irritation treatment, and the sera of both BN rats and GPs were collected to detect IgE concentration by using ELISA. The sera were also applied for passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test (PCA test) in SD rats.

No obvious allergic reactions were observed in BSA group of GPs after each irritation treat, however, the score of allergic response in BSA group of BN rats was evidently higher than that in control group after first irritation. PCA test by using sera from BSA group of BN rats after both irritations showed the strong positive result characterized as large amount of subcutaneous effusions of Evans blue in SD rats, however, the sera from BSA group of GP were negative in PCA test. Serum IgE concentration did not increase after each irritation in BSA group of both BN rats and GP.

BN rats were more sensitive than GPs on initiative systemic anaphylaxis test and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test. Meanwhile, BN rats has an advantage in experimental treatment compared with Guinea pigs.