OBJECTIVETo establish a food allergy model in Brown Norway (BN) rats by gavage of ovalbumin (OVA) without any adjuvant, and to evaluate this model.

METHODSA total of 20 male BN rats aged 3 weeks were randomly divided into allergy group and control group (n=10 each). BN rats in the allergy group were given OVA 1 mg per day by gavage, and all the rats were treated for 41 days continuously. On day 42, the rats in the allergy group were given OVA 100 mg by gavage for challenge. The rats in the control group were given normal saline of the same volume by gavage. Differences in body length, body weight, and food intake were compared between the two groups on days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42. ELISA was used to measure the serum OVA-IgE level and plasma histamine level after challenge on day 42, and the changes in rats' appearance and fecal properties were observed. The model of food allergy was considered successful when the serum OVA-IgE level in the allergy group was no less than the mean serum OVA-IgE level + 3 standard deviation in the control group.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in body length, body weight or food intake between the allergy and control groups at all time points (P>0.05). On day 21, the control group had a significantly higher food intake than the allergy group (P<0.05). On day 42 after challenge, the allergy group showed significantly higher serum OVA-IgE and plasma histamine levels than the control group (P<0.05). The sensitization rate (rate of successful modeling) was 90%. The fecal properties showed no significant differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSOVA by gavage without any adjuvant can successfully establish the model of food allergy in BN rats and has a high success rate. Food allergy induced by OVA may reduce food intake within a short period of time, but no influence on rats' body length or body weight has been observed.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Food Hypersensitivity ; etiology ; immunology ; Histamine ; blood ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Ovalbumin ; immunology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN

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.
Aluminum Hydroxide ; Animals ; Eosinophils ; Immunoglobulin E ; Models, Animal ; Nasal Mucosa ; Ovalbumin ; Pertussis Toxin ; Rats* ; Rats, Inbred BN ; Rhinitis* ; Sneezing

An orthotopic penetrating keratoplasty model was developed in the rat. An oversized (0.5 mm) graft was used and 8 interrupted sutures were applied. These sutures were not removed. Eleven grafts out of 13 were rejected by the 3rd week in the disparate group (Brown Norway rat to Lewis rat transplantation group), which was characterized by edema, opacity, and neovascularization. All grafts remained clear in the syngeneic group (Lewis rat to Lewis rat transplantation group). Immunohistochemical examination was performed. This model seems to be a reliable and reproducible one to evaluate rejection reaction in corneal transplantation.
Animals ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating/immunology/*methods/pathology ; Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology/pathology ; Macrophages/immunology/pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Transplantation, Isogeneic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of tacrolimus (FK506) against acute liver graft rejection.

METHODSRat models of orthotopic liver transplantation were divided into 3 groups, namely the tolerance group with Brown Norway (BN) rats as the donors and Lewis rats as the recipients, rejection group with Lewis rats as donors and BN rats as recipients, and FK506 group with the same donor-recipient pair as in the rejection group and FK506 treatment. The recipients were sacrificed 7 days after the transplantation, and the hepatic histology, cytokine levels, and glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor-related protein ligand (GITRL) expression in the liver and Kupffer cells were observed and detected.

RESULTSCompared with the tolerance group, the rejection group showed increased GITRL expressions in the liver and Kupffer cells (P<0.05), which was significantly lowered by FK506 treatment (P<0.05). Acute liver graft rejection caused significantly elevated interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels and decreased interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels in the plasma and Kupffer cells (P<0.05), and these changes were obviously attenuated by FK506 treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe effect of FK506 in suppressing acute liver graft rejection is probably associated with down-regulated GITRL expression in the liver and Kupffer cells.

Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Graft Rejection ; prevention & control ; Kupffer Cells ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Tacrolimus ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo compare the sensitivity of Brown Norway rats (BN) with Guinea pigs (GP) as allergen assessment animal models.

METHODBN rats and GP were randomly assigned to 1 control group, 2 Bovine serum albumin group (BSA), respectively. Animals in BSA groups of BN rats and GPs were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of 0.6% BSA 1 ml on day 1, 3, 5, respectively, and irritated by intravenous injection of 2.4% BSA 1 ml on day 7 and day 14 after the last sensitization, while the same volume of normal saline was given to control group on each time point mentioned above. The allergic reactions were scored within 1 h after each irritation treatment, and the sera of both BN rats and GPs were collected to detect IgE concentration by using ELISA. The sera were also applied for passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test (PCA test) in SD rats.

RESULTNo obvious allergic reactions were observed in BSA group of GPs after each irritation treat, however, the score of allergic response in BSA group of BN rats was evidently higher than that in control group after first irritation. PCA test by using sera from BSA group of BN rats after both irritations showed the strong positive result characterized as large amount of subcutaneous effusions of Evans blue in SD rats, however, the sera from BSA group of GP were negative in PCA test. Serum IgE concentration did not increase after each irritation in BSA group of both BN rats and GP.

CONCLUSIONBN rats were more sensitive than GPs on initiative systemic anaphylaxis test and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test. Meanwhile, BN rats has an advantage in experimental treatment compared with Guinea pigs.

Allergens ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Anaphylaxis ; chemically induced ; Animals ; Guinea Pigs ; Hypersensitivity ; etiology ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of Chinese drugs for cooling blood and dissolving stasis (CBDS) in different concentrations on morphology of krypton laser induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in brown Norway (BN) rats.

METHODSForty-eight rats received laser irradiation (659 nm) on fundus of one eye (power 360 mW, spot diameter 50 microm, time 0.05 s). They were divided into four groups equally: the control group (A) treated with normal saline, and the three CBDS groups treated respectively with high (B, 5.0 g/kg), median (C, 2.5 g/kg) and low (D, 1.25 g/kg) dosage of CBDS, twice every day via gastric perfusion for 21 successive days. Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) on 4 selected rats in each group was performed at the 7th, 14th and 21st day after photocoagulation, and histopathologic examination using light microscope with immuno-histochemical stain was conducted on them as well.

RESULTSFFA showed that CNV was firstly appeared on day 7 after photocoagulation, in Group A, it expanded gradually and reached the peak on day 21, but showed no significant expansion in the three CBDS groups. The fluorescein leakage in Group C (52343.13 +/- 12973.92 dots) and D (66252.78 +/- 20659.71 dots) was significantly less than that in Group A (91457.19 +/- 29309.11 dots) and B (95973.40 +/- 53950.43 dots) on day 21, all showing statistical significance (P<0.05). The variation of CNV in thickness showed that in Group A it increased gradually from day 7 and reached the peak on day 21 (55.3383 +/- 8.5036 microm); but in the CBDS groups, the peak was reached on day 14, then became thinned gradually, on day 21, it was 40.0913 +/- 13.3448 microm in Group B, 38.8473 +/- 7.9862 microm in Group C and 38.9372 +/- 5.1728 microm in Group D, all thinner than that in Group A significantly (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONCDBS can effectively suppress the krypton laser induced CNV proliferation and prevent the CNV leakage in BN rats.

Animals ; Choroidal Neovascularization ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN

This study is to observe allergic response to Qingkailing injection in BN rats and to establish a suitable animal model to evaluate allergic response induced by traditional Chinese medicine. BN rats were sensitized by Qingkailing injection, and guinea pigs were similarly sensitized as the control. The symptoms of allergic response were observed, the levels of histamine in serum and tissues were determined by ELISA assay and pathological changes in lung and trachea were observed with HE staining under light microscope. The total incidence of allergic response in BN rats was 52.78%, which was higher than that in guinea pig groups (16.67%). The total degree of allergic response in BN rats was higher than that in guinea pigs. Compared with control groups, the level of histamine in serum, lung and trachea tissues of BN rats and guinea pigs increased significantly. The release rate of histamine in BN rats was higher than that in guinea pigs. The rate and degree of pathological changes in lung and trachea tissues of BN rats were higher than that in guinea pigs. Compared with guinea pig, BN rat is probably a suitable animal model in evaluating allergic response to injection of traditional Chinese medicine.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; Guinea Pigs ; Histamine ; blood ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; chemically induced ; Injections ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN

Qingkailing injection, Shuanghuanglian injection, baicalin, chlorogenic acid as sample, guinea pig as control, to observe the specificity of allergic response to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) injection in BN rats and establish a suitable animal model to evaluate applicability of allergic response in BN rats and guinea pigs induced by TCM. BN rats were sensitized by TCM injection, the symptoms, the rate and degree of allergic response were observed, the level of histamine in serum and tissues were determined by ELISA assay, the rate and degree of pathological changes in target organs were observed by HE staining under light microscope. There were significant symptoms of allergic response can be in BN rats, the level of histamine in serum, lung and trachea tissues increased significantly and there were significant pathological changes in lungs and tracheas. Meanwhile, the similar symptoms of allergic response can be induced by penicillin and trichosanthin. The rate and degree of allergic response, the rate and degree of pathological changes was higher in BN rats than in guinea pigs. Compared with guinea pig, BN rat is probably more suitable animal model in evaluating allergic response to injection of TCM.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Guinea Pigs ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; chemically induced ; Injections ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), integrin alphavbeta3, and tissue factor (TF) in choroidal neovascularization (CNV). METHODS: CNV was induced in 25 Brown Norway (BN) rats by diode laser with 532 nm wave length. In every BN rat, one eye was induced to produce CNV, and the other eye served as the normal control eye. Fundus photography and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) were performed just before euthanasia on 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 d after laser photocoagulation. The retina was processed for histopathology and immunohistochemical analysis to detect the expressions of VEGF, integrin alphavbeta3, and TF. RESULTS: There was no CNV, no expression of intergrin alphavbeta3 and TF in the normal control eyes. Only a few VEGFs were expressed in the ganglion cell layer of the retina, inner nuclear layer, retinal pigment epithelium, and vascular endothelial cell of the retina and choroid in normal eyes. FFA revealed disc-like leakage of fluorescein 7 days after the photo-coagulation, meaning there was CNV. VEGF, intergrin alphavbeta3, and TF were all expressed in the ganglion cell layer of the retina, inner nuclear layer, retinal pigment epithelium, and vascular endothelial cell of the retina and choroids 3 days after the photo-coagulation. With the development of CNV, expressions of integrin alphavbeta3, VEGF, and TF were gradually increasing (P<0.01). The expression of integrin alphavbeta3 in the retina was at peak on 7th day, VEGF on 14th day, and TF on 21st day. CONCLUSION Expressions of VEGF, integrin alphavbeta3, and TF in CNV were found at the early, middle and late stage of CNV formation. It is important to determine the time of anti-neovascularization.
Animals ; Choroidal Neovascularization ; genetics ; metabolism ; Integrin alphaVbeta3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN ; Thromboplastin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the synergistic effect of oleanolic acid (OA) and cyclosporine A (CsA) on the survival of renal allografts in rats.

METHODSRenal allograft transplantation was performed using BN rats as donors and LEW rats as recipients. Forty male LEW rats were randomized into 4 equal groups for interventions with DMSO-PBS (control), OA, CsA, or CsA+OA, starting from 1 day before transplantation. Serum creatinine levels were regularly examined, and the survival of rats were recorded. On day 5 after transplantation, CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell infiltration in the renal grafts was analyzed by immunohistochemistry; the concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-17), anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and chemokines (IP-10, MCP-1, MIP, and Mig) were analyzed with Luminex; the T-cell phenotypes (IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-4, and IL-17) were analyzed using ELISpot.

RESULTSIn OA+CsA group, renal allograft survival was markedly prolonged and CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell infiltration in the graft significantly decreased as compared to other groups. A significant decrease in IL-2 was observed in OA group and OA+CsA group, especially the latter. Compared with the control group, all the 3 treated groups showed significantly decreased IL-1β, IP-10 and MCP-1, increased IL-10 levels, decreased percentages of T cells secreting IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-17, and increased percentage of T cells secreting IL-10. The increments of serum IL-10 level and T cell percentage were more prominent in OA+CsA group than in the other two intervention groups.

CONCLUSIONSOA and CsA synergistically ameliorate renal graft rejection and inflammation and promote allograft survival and function in rats.

Animals ; Cyclosporine ; pharmacology ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Drug Synergism ; Graft Survival ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Oleanolic Acid ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; Transplantation, Homologous