Departments

Spontaneous breathing

Purpose

Plethysmography (Penh) allows determination of airway volumes, breath frequency, and assessment of airway obstruction in non-restrained mice. This test allows evaluation of fibrosis, as well as physiological and anatomical defects of lungs (e.g. emphysema).

Sample test results

Equipment

Whole-body barometric plethysmograph (EMKA Technologies, Paris, France)

Recommendations

Number of animals: 8 mice/gender/genotype

Airway responsiveness

Purpose

Assessment of airway responsiveness to pharmacological challenge in conscious mice by whole-body barometric plethysmography. This test is routinely performed with methacholine (bronchoconstrictor).

Sample test results

Equipment

Whole-body barometric plethysmograph (EMKA Technologies, Paris, France)

Recommendations

Number of animals: 12 mice/gender/genotype

Mouse strain: Balb/c

Invasive airway responsiveness

Purpose

Invasive airway responsiveness measurement in anaesthetized, tracheotomized and mechanically ventilated mice using the forced oscillation technique with FlexiVent® (SCIREQ).

Equipment

FlexiVent® (SCIREQ, Montreal, Canada)

Recommendations

Numbers of animals: 8 mice/gender/genotype

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL)

Purpose

Exploration of lung inflammatory cells and mediators, e.g. cytokines, contained in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL). The service includes either the use of standard cytokines and chemokines techniques (Luminex, Elisa) or application of specific protocols provided by users.

Sample test results

Equipment

Advia 120 (Siemens AG, Erlangen, Germany)
Cytospin 4

Recommendations

Number of animals: 8 mice/gender/genotype