EFFECT OF HYPOBARIC HYPOXIA ON ASTHMA IN GUINEA
PIGS
Kong Xiangying, Gui Qin,
Bai Jiasi
Department of Pediatrics, Southwest Hospital, Third
Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
Objective: To explore the mechanism
of the therapeutic effect of hypobaric hypoxia on allergic asthmatic guinea
pigs.
Methods: After the model of
asthma was established with ovalbumin(OA) challenge in OA sensitized guinea
pigs, the animals were divided randomaticly into the asthmatic group(AG),
the alleviative group(ALG) and hypobaric hypoxic_treated group(HHTG). The
levels of plasma cortisol and endothelin(ET), and that of ET in
bronchcalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined by RIA. The pulmonary
pathological changes ware observed with optical microscope.
Results: 1. Infiltration of
eosinophils (EOS) in alveolar septum was found in AG and ALG while it was
improved in HHTG. 2. The level of plasma cortisol was significantly higher
in AG than in normal control group (NCG) (p<0.01). But it was
significantly lower in ALG than in NCG and HHTG (p<0.01). 3. The content
of ET in plasma was significantly higher in ALG than in NCG, AG and
HHTG(p<0.01), and that in
BALF was significantly higher in AG than in NCG, ALG and HHTG(p<0.05),
however, no significant difference was found among the latter three groups
respectively. Conclusion: After
the treatment with hypobaric hypoxia, the levels of the plasma and BALF ET
were decreased and the content of plasma cortisol was increased,
infiltration of EOS inalveolar septum was decreased inasthmatic guinea
pigs.
Key
words: hypobaric hypoxia, asthma, endothelin, Cortisol, eosinophil.