Reactivity of equine airways–a study on precision-cut lung slices.
Abstract: A study was performed to evaluate the use of precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) for studies on the contraction of equine airways. Lungs of 10 horses were taken to prepare PCLS of approximately 250 microm from equine lung tissue using a special microtome. The lung slices were cultured and the enclosed small airways were monitored using a microscope with coupled digital camera, which was used to determine the airway luminal area and diameter from digital images. As indicated by the beating of the ciliated epithelium and reactivity of airways on methacholine challenge, the tissue slices were found to be viable for at least 24 h. The airways were not precontracted, as indicated by a missing dilatory effect of 1 mmol/L clenbuterol. Bronchoconstriction induced by both methacholine and histamine was found to be dose dependent. EC(50) values based on luminal area were 1.12 micromol/L x / / 3.82 for methacholine and 0.68 micromol/L x / / 6.99 for histamine. In conclusion, the PCLS technique is promising for studies on small airways in the equine lung. In the present study the basic principles of in vitro (ex vivo) examinations with equine PCLS on airway reactivity were developed.
Publication Date: 2007-01-24 PubMed ID: 17252319DOI: 10.1007/s11259-007-3501-yGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research focused on examining the airways of horses using precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) to study their contraction. The results showed that the PCLS technique is effective for studying small airways, providing important insights into equine lung function.
Methods
- The lungs from 10 horses were used to prepare PCLS of about 250 micrometers using a special microtome. A microtome is a tool used to cut extremely thin slices of material, in this case, lung tissue.
- These slices were then cultured for study. The culture environment is intended to mimic the body conditions, keeping the tissue slices viable for research.
- Observations on the small airways in the slices were made through a microscope equipped with a digital camera. This allowed researchers to calculate the luminal area and diameter of the airways using digital images.
Results
- The tissue slices remained viable for at least 24 hours, as determined by observing the activity of the ciliated epithelium and airway reactivity to a methacholine challenge. Methacholine is a drug that causes the bronchial muscles to tighten, a reaction believed to occur in asthma.
- The researchers noted that the airways were not precontracted, as demonstrated by the lack of a dilatory effect of 1 millimole per liter (mmol/L) of clenbuterol. Clenbuterol is a bronchodilator often used in treating asthma.
- Bronchoconstriction, or the narrowing of the airways in the lungs, caused by methacholine and histamine was found to be dose dependent. This means the effect increased with the administration of higher amounts of the substances.
- Based on luminal area, EC(50) values were 1.12 micromol/L for methacholine and 0.68 micromol/L for histamine. The EC(50) value represents the concentration of a drug which gives half-maximal response, it’s a commonly used measure of a drug’s potency.
Conclusions
- The PCLS technique, as indicated by this study, offers promise for researching small airways in the equine lung. The findings from this study may prove useful for understanding and treating equine respiratory diseases.
- The study also contributes to establishing the fundamental principles of in vitro (ex vivo) examinations with equine PCLS on airway reactivity.
Cite This Article
APA
Vietmeier J, Niedorf F, Bäumer W, Martin C, Deegen E, Ohnesorge B, Kietzmann M.
(2007).
Reactivity of equine airways–a study on precision-cut lung slices.
Vet Res Commun, 31(5), 611-619.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-007-3501-y Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bronchoconstrictor Agents / pharmacology
- Histamine / pharmacology
- Histamine Agents / pharmacology
- Horses / physiology
- Lung / drug effects
- Lung / physiology
- Methacholine Chloride / pharmacology
- Tissue Culture Techniques
References
This article includes 12 references
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