Altered airway responsiveness in adult sheep born prematurely: effects of allergen exposure.
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of preterm birth per se on airway function in adult sheep. Preterm birth was induced at approximately 0.89 of term. At approximately 1 year of age the authors measured pulmonary resistance (RL) and airway responsiveness before and after house dust mite (HDM) challenge. Mature preterm sheep tended to have greater baseline RL than controls (P = .12): the smaller preterm sheep showed significantly greater RL than controls following bronchoconstrictor challenge. Preterm animals tended to have greater baseline total blood leukocyte count (P = .06). It was concluded that preterm sheep, especially with low postnatal growth, have greater airway responsiveness to bronchoconstrictor and higher baseline RL.
Snibson
Kenneth J
KJ
Centre for Animal Biotechnology, Department of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. ksnibson@unimelb.edu.au
Bischof
Robert J
RJ
Koumoundouros
Emmanuel
E
McMurtrie
Lachlan S
LS
Cock
Megan
M
Harding
Richard
R
D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001724:Birth Weight; D001835:Body Weight; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents; D005260:Female; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000503:physiopathology*; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*
D000485:Allergens; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents