Abstract
The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of ketotifen on the airway responses and the recruitment of the inflammatory cells into the airways of sensitized rats after antigen challenge. Twenty-five Brown Norway rats, 7–9 weeks old, were actively sensitized to ovalbumin (OA) (1 mg s.c.) andBordetella pertussis vaccine (109 bacilli i.p.) At 14 days after sensitization rats were anesthetized with urethane (1.1 g/kg i.p.) and intubated endotracheally. Aerosols of OA (5% W/V in saline for 5 min) were administered to control rats (Group A;n=9), to a low-dose ketotifen group (Group B; 1 mg/kg PO;n=8) and a high-dose ketotifen group (Group C; 10 mg/kg; PO for 10 days;n=9). Pulmonary resistance (R L) was measured at baseline, and every 15 min for up to 8 h after OA. The magnitude of the early response was 241±51% in A (% baselineR L; mean±SE), and significantly less in B (119±7%) and C (131±16%) (p<0.01). The late response was significantly lower in C than A but not B. The total cell number in bronchoalveolar lavage at 8 h after OA challenge was significantly higher in A than B and C (p<0.01). The lymphocyte and eosinophil counts were reduced in B and C compared to A (p<0.05). A positive correlation was found between the late response and total number of cells recovered in the BAL (r=0.78) (p<0.05). We conclude that ketotifen inhibited the early response and late response, and the influx of inflammatory cells into the airways after antigen challenge.
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Sapienza, S., Renzi, P.M. & Martin, J.G. Effects of ketotifen on airway responses to allergen challenge in the actively sensitized Brown Norway rat. Agents and Actions 37, 238–244 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02028115
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02028115