[Bronchial reactivity to methacholine and serotonin in six inbred mouse strains]

We examined six mouse strains, A/J, DBA/2, WBB6F1-W/Wv, WBB6F1- +/+, C3H/HeN, C57BL/6, for their bronchial reactivity to methacholine and serotonin. The mice were anaesthetized with intraperitoneal sodium pentobarbital. The trachea was intubated and one jugular vein was cannulated. Then, the mice were ventilated on air, using a small animal ventilator at a rate of 60 strokes/min with a tidal volume of 0.5 ml. Methacholine and serotonin diluted to various concentrations were administered intravenously. Bronchoconstriction was assessed by the modified Konzett-Rossler method. According to their bronchial responsiveness to methacholine and serotonin, the strains were grouped into high- (A/J, DBA/2), middle- (WBB6F1-W/Wv, -+/+) or low- (C3H/HeN, C57BL/6) responder groups.