Allergic Rhinitis Model Using Brown-Norway Rats

Kim, Hyo Yeol; Dhong, Hun Jong; Chung, Seung Kyu

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The necessity of a well established allergic rhinitis model is needed for the research of pathophysiology and therapeutic trial of allergic rhinitis. We investigated the potential of the inbred Brown-Norway (BN) rats, the high IgE-responder for allergic stimulation, as a model for allergic rhinitis using different durations of local sensitization with ovalbumin. MATERIALS AND METHOD: BN rats were divided into 3 groups according to the duration of local sensitization (LS), 1, 4, and 8 weeks, respectively. They were sensitized generally with ovalbumin in aluminum hydroxide and pertussis toxin followed by 1, 4, and 8 weeks of LS with ovalbumin nebulization. The frequency of sneezing, ovalbumin specific serum IgE, and the degree of eosinophil infiltration into the nasal mucosa in experimental groups were compared with the control group. RESULTS: After allergen challenge, the frequency of sneezing and ovalbumin specific IgE levels were significantly increased compared with the control group, and irrespective of the duration of LS. Eosinophil infiltration was significantly increased in the groups with 4 and 8 weeks of LS, but more severe in the group with 4 weeks of LS. CONCLUSION: BN rats were the suitable strain for the allergic rhinitis model and 4 to 8 weeks of LS was appropriate for allergic rhinitis model.