Lung physiology during asthma

Scope

The aim of this program is to measure lung function during acute allergic asthma in a sheep model.

Lung resistance after increasing doses of HDM in allergic (high IgE) and non-allergic (low IgE) sheep

Research outline

Physiology of asthmatic responses in sheep

Emmanuel Koumoundouros, Rob Bischof*, Iven Mareels#, Els Meeusen* & Ken Snibson
# Department of Electrical Engineering, The University of Melbourne
* Department of Physiology, Monash University

We have developed Labview software to measure the physiological changes in the lungs of sheep following exposure to a relevant human allergen, house dust mite. The lung function software allows the measurement of airway hypersensitivity to non-specific stimuli and allergen-specific responses in allergic sheep, as assessed by post-allergen changes in airway resistance and compliance. In addition to assessing acute physiological responses, we are now measuring the long-term decline in lung function associated with chronic exposure to allergen. These investigations are being carried out in parallel with immunological and morphological studies, and will provide for a more complete understanding of the complexity of asthma.

The sheep asthma model is well placed to test therapeutic procedures for asthma control due to the physiological and anatomical similarities between the sheep and human lung. The procedures we use to measure lung physiology responses can be repeatedly performed in conscious animals so that there are no confounding effects of anaesthetic agents. We anticipate that use of the sheep model will allow for the development of better-targeted drug designs and therapeutic intervention strategies for the control of asthma.

Key publications

• Bischof RJ, Snibson K, Shaw RJ & Meeusen ENT (2003). Induction of allergic inflammation in the lungs of sensitized sheep after local challenge with house dust mite. Clin Exp Allergy 33: 367-375.
• Koumoundouros E, Bischof RJ, Mareels I, Snibson KJ (2003). The effects of inhaled carbachol in sheep lungs. World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Conference Proceedings, Sydney Australia
• Koumoundouros E, Bischof RJ, Mareels I, Snibson KJ (2002). Physiological responses to house dust mite in sheep lungs. Australas Phys Eng Sci Med 25: (4) 225. Auckland New Zealand