Open AccessDosimetry implications of upper tracheobronchial airway anatomy in two mouse varieties
Author(s) -
Oldham Michael J.,
Phalen Robert F.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the anatomical record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1097-0185
pISSN - 0003-276X
DOI - 10.1002/ar.10134
Subject(s) - respiratory tract , particle deposition , airway , ventilation (architecture) , lung , deposition (geology) , respiratory system , anatomy , ovalbumin , dosimetry , biology , pathology , chemistry , physiology , medicine , nuclear medicine , anesthesia , immunology , aerosol , mechanical engineering , paleontology , immune system , organic chemistry , sediment , engineering
Strain‐ and variety‐related differences in responses of mice have been reported for a variety of inhaled particulate and gaseous materials. It is important to understand the potential contributions to such responses of differences in delivered doses to the respiratory tract as well as differences in biochemical processes. Deposition doses of inhaled particles are influenced by several factors, including airway anatomy, ventilation, and particle characteristics. Tracheobronchial airway morphometry for airway generations 1–6 of the BALB/c mouse was generated using replica lung casts prepared in situ. Measurements were performed on two groups: control and ovalbumin‐sensitized male BALB/c mice. These measurements were compared with previously published airway morphometry of male B6C3F 1 mice. Sensitization did not significantly change measured airway dimensions in the BALB/c mouse. However, the two mouse varieties had significant differences in airway anatomy. The differences found in airway anatomy between mouse varieties correlated with differences in body length and chest circumference. Particle deposition predictions for both varieties of mice were performed for unit density spherical particles from 0.1 to 10 μm in diameter at two ventilation rates using a published aerosol dosimetry computer code. Particle deposition in the proximal tracheobronchial tree ranged up to 3 times greater for the BALB/c mouse for a 2 μm particle diameter and high ventilation rate. These differences in predicted particle deposition suggest that observed strain and variety differences in response to inhaled particulate matter may be in part due to differences in delivered doses to the respiratory tract. Anat Rec 268:59–65, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.