In vivo pharmacological evaluation of compound 48/80-induced airways oedema by MRI.
OBJECTIVE
Allergen-induced airways oedema in actively sensitized rats has been studied earlier by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We used MRI to follow the consequences of non-immunological mast cell activation induced by compound 48/80 in the rat lungs in vivo.


METHODS
Male naïve rats were scanned by MRI prior to and at several time points following intratracheal administration of the mast cell secretagogue, compound 48/80. The effects of a range of drugs on the response induced by compound 48/80 were studied.


RESULTS
Strong fluid signals were detected by MRI in the lungs at 24 h after compound 48/80, correlating with increased protein concentration and inflammatory cell infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage, and with perivascular oedema observed histologically. Pharmacological intervention demonstrated that the increase in MRI signal volume induced by compound 48/80 24 h after challenge was blocked by disodium cromoglycate and the glucocorticoid, budesonide. Pretreatment with wortmannin, capsazepine, DNK333 (a dual neurokinin (NK) 1 and NK2 antagonist) or the anti-allergy drug CGS8515, but not indomethacin, resulted in partial inhibition.


CONCLUSIONS
Compound 48/80 induced a complex inflammatory reaction which did not solely involve mast cell degranulation but also activation of sensory nerves and was qualitatively similar to allergen challenge. Changes observed by MRI correlated with decreases in protein concentration in BAL fluid. However, the magnitude of the changes detected was greater using MRI. Our results demonstrate that MRI is a sensitive and efficient tool to assess the effects of drugs on lung inflammation.
Karmouty-Quintana
H
H
Global Imaging Group, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
Blé
F-X
FX
Cannet
C
C
Zurbruegg
S
S
Fozard
J R
JR
Page
C P
CP
Beckmann
N
N
D000730:Androstadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001372:Aza Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D019819:Budesonide / Q000494:pharmacology; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000494:pharmacology; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D019141:Respiratory System Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D000077191:Wortmannin; D062367:ortho-Aminobenzoates / Q000494:pharmacology; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine
D000730:Androstadienes; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001372:Aza Compounds; D001549:Benzamides; C448383:DNK 333; D009285:Naphthoquinones; D011506:Proteins; D019141:Respiratory System Agents; D062367:ortho-Aminobenzoates; C055523:methyl 2-((3,4-dihydro-3,4-dioxo-1-naphthalenyl)amino)benzoate; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine; D019819:Budesonide; C071423:capsazepine; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium; D002211:Capsaicin; D000077191:Wortmannin; D007213:Indomethacin