Model of bronchial hyperreactivity after active anaphylactic shock in conscious guinea pigs

A model of bronchial hyperreactivity at various times after an active anaphylactic shock in conscious guinea pigs is described. The bronchial inflammation was quantified in parallel by determination of the number of mononuclear cells, neutrophils, and eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids. The guinea pigs were sensitized by an intramuscular (i.m.) injection of a large dose of ovalbumin in Freund's complete adjuvant. The administration of ovalbumin (to induce anaphylactic shock) and of histamine to investigate bronchial hyperreactivity was by aerosol. The bronchial hyperreactivity to histamine was observed 3-6 hr after the anaphylactic shock. In the BAL fluid a decrease (1-3 hr) and then an increase (24-48 hr) in the number of mononuclear cells was found as well as an increase in neutrophils (3-48 hr) and in eosinophils (6-48 hr). The hyperreactivity was not correlated with changes in one category of cell in the BAL fluid. This model constitutes one simple test for investigating bronchial hyperreactivity in conscious guinea pigs. Further work is needed to try to determine the possible inflammatory parameters responsible for the hyperreactivity.