Effect of somatic growth, strain, and sex on double-chamber plethysmographic respiratory function values in healthy mice

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) Vol. 94; no. 3; pp. 1129 - 1136
• Main Authors: Flandre, Thierry D, Leroy, Pascal L, Desmecht, Daniel J.-M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Am Physiological Soc 01.03.2003; American Physiological Society
• Subjects: Air breathing; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchoconstrictor Agents - pharmacology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth - physiology; Lung - growth & development; Lung - physiology; Lung Volume Measurements; Male; Methacholine Chloride - pharmacology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Plethysmography; Respiratory Function Tests; Respiratory system: anatomy, metabolism, gas exchange, ventilatory mechanics, respiratory hemodynamics; Sex Characteristics; Species Specificity; Vertebrates: respiratory system; Growth; Rodentia; Respiratory system; C57BL/6; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Lung function; Mouse; Laboratory animal; Measurement method; airway resistance; Plethysmography; BALB/c
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00561.2002

Departments of 1  Pathology and 2  Biostatistics, University of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium Double-chamber plethysmography has been recognized since 1979 as a reference technique to measure pulmonary function values in guinea pigs, but it has not gained attention for use in mice. Theoretically, however, this technique combines the advantages of single-chamber plethysmography with a quantitative assessment of flow and/or volume and a calculated resistance, the interpretation of which in terms of bronchoconstriction is not disputed. Here we show that, when appropriately preconditioned, mice are able to gradually grow accustomed to the apparatus and display extremely stable nasal and thoracoabdominal flow tracings. Overall, strain, sex, and somatic growth had a significant effect on pulmonary function values. The changes in specific airway resistance (sRaw) and enhanced pause (Penh) values were never in the same direction, indicating that they measure different things. The respiratory frequency was far higher in C57BL/6 compared with BALB/c mice. Peak flows, minute volume, specific tidal and minute volumes, and sRaw were also higher, but Penh was smaller. Males breathed at a higher frequency than females, leading to a higher minute volume. Nevertheless, the specific volumes were considerably higher among females. Penh was lower in males, whereas sRaw was identical in both sexes. Changes associated with somatic growth were rapid and important between 5 and 9 wk, then slowed down between 9 and 12-13 wk and became almost imperceptible after. airway resistance; BALB/c; C57BL/6