Premium
Use of star volume to measure the size of the alveolar space in the asthmatic guinea‐pig lung
Author(s) -
YANG ZHENGWEI,
QIN YANHONG,
SU SHURONG
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
respirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1440-1843
pISSN - 1323-7799
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1843.2002.00373.x
Subject(s) - ovalbumin , dexamethasone , medicine , guinea pig , lung , alveolar wall , lung volumes , asthma , tidal volume , saline , immunology , pathology , respiratory system , antigen
Background: The ovalbumin‐sensitized guinea‐pig is a useful small‐animal model of allergic asthma; however, it is unclear whether considerable morphological changes occur in the lung. Methodology: Guinea‐pigs were initially given ovalbumin (i.p. injection) for 14 days and asthma was then induced by daily challenges with aerosolized ovalbumin for 10 days. During this time, animals were treated with either saline (positive control) or dexamethasone. Pulmonary sections were prepared to estimate the volume and surface area of the alveolar space, mean thickness of the alveolar septum and star volume of the alveolar space using stereological methods. Results: The primary change in the lung in the positive control group was a significantly increased star volume, which was approximately threefold that of animals not treated with ovalbumin and the dexamethasone‐treated group. There were no significant differences in other morphometric parameters between the groups. Conclusion: Star volume of the alveolar space appears to be a good and useful parameter to detect morphological changes of the asthmatic lung.