The effects of age and carbon black on airway resistance in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Ambient particulate matter (PM) is associated with acute exacerbations of airflow obstruction. Additionally, elderly individuals are more susceptible to increased functional morbidity following acute PM exposure.

Objective

The purpose of this study is to determine the aging effects of PM exposure on the responsiveness of airway smooth muscle in mice. We hypothesized that airway reactivity induced by methacholine (Mch) will increase with age in PM exposed mice.

Materials and methods

Male C57BL/6 (B6) mice at 11, 39, 67, and 96 weeks of age were exposed to carbon black (CB) or room air (RA) for 3 h on 3 consecutive days. One day after the last exposure, mice were anesthetized and airways resistance (R(aw)) was measured by forced oscillation following half-log do

SUBMITTER: Bennett BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4973310 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature