title: Motor activity as an unbiased variable to assess anaphylaxis in allergic rats.
abstract: The release of mediators by mast cells triggers allergic symptoms involving various physiological systems and, in the most severe cases, the development of anaphylactic shock compromising mainly the nervous and cardiovascular systems. We aimed to establish variables to objectively study the anaphylactic response (AR) after an oral challenge in an allergy model. Brown Norway rats were immunized by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin with alum and toxin from Bordetella pertussis. Specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E antibodies were developed in immunized animals. Forty days after immunization, the rats were orally challenged with the allergen, and motor activity, body temperature and serum mast cell protease concentration were determined. The anaphylaxis induced a reduction in body temperature and a decrease in the number of animal movements, which was inversely correlated with serum mast cell protease release. In summary, motor activity is a reliable tool for assessing AR and also an unbiased method for screening new anti-allergic drugs.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abril-Gil
authors.affiliation: Departament de Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garcia-Just
authors.affiliation: Departament de Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Trinitat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cambras
authors.affiliation: Departament de Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain Institut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària (INSA-UB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Pérez-Cano
authors.affiliation: Departament de Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain Institut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària (INSA-UB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castellote
authors.affiliation: Departament de Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain Institut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària (INSA-UB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Àngels
authors.initials: À
authors.lastname: Franch
authors.affiliation: Departament de Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain Institut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària (INSA-UB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain margaridacastell@ub.edu.
authors.forename: Margarida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castell
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D009043:Motor Activity; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010047:Ovalbumin; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C057818:cytotoxic T lymphocyte-specific serine protease
keywords: Allergy; anaphylaxis; mast cell; motor activity; rat