Monitoring respiratory function and sleep in the obese Vietnamese pot-bellied pig.
Development of drug treatments for obstructive sleep-disordered breathing has been impeded by the lack of animal models. The obese pig may be a suitable animal model, as it has been reported to experience sleep-disordered breathing resembling human obstructive sleep apnea. The purpose of this paper is to describe in detail techniques for chronic instrumentation of the obese Vietnamese pot-bellied pig and to study respiratory function during sleep. Under general anesthesia, four obese pigs were instrumented for long-term recording of intrapleural and tracheal pressures, genioglossal EMG, and bioelectric signals related to sleep. A custom-fitted face mask was used to record respiratory variables including airflow, snoring, and expired CO(2). Most chronic instrumentation provided robust signals for up to 6 wk after installation. All pigs displayed sleep-disordered breathing characterized by increased resistance to airflow, snoring, inspiratory flow limitation, and possible sleep disruption. Apneas and hypopneas were not a feature of breathing during sleep in these animals. Nonetheless, this animal preparation may be useful for exploring possible drug treatments for obstructive sleep-disordered breathing.
Tuck
S A
SA
Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4N1. satuck@ucalgary.ca
Dort
J C
JC
Olson
M E
ME
Remmers
J E
JE
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004576:Electromyography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000662:veterinary; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000662:veterinary*; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000662:veterinary*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*