Of nucleated cells within the peribronchial space. All were measured on HES and actinstained sections, except fibrosis which was quantified on modified Masson’s trichrome stain.In Vivo Micro-CT Assessment of Airway RemodelingStatistical AnalysisValues are expressed as the mean 6 SEM, except those related to microCT for which the normality could not be rigorously established. The agreement between the semi-automatic and manual methods for PBA measurement was assessed in 10 datasets chosen at random using Bland-Altman analysis [19]. The manual method has been described previously in detail [16] and was based upon a two-dimensional analysis from multiplanar reformations. For each group, the following parameters were compared between sensitized and control mice using Mann-WhitneyWilcoxon rank sum test: weight at endpoint, Penh ratio, LR, micro-CT parameters, BAL results and histological data. Correlations between, on the one hand, PBA or normalized PBA, and, on the other hand, Penh ratio, BAL or histological data, were assessed using the Spearman rank correlation coefficients. All analyses were performed using NCSS software (NCSS 2001, Kaysville, UT, USA) and results were considered statistically significant when P-values,0.05.Results Description of the Mouse Models of AsthmaFrom an initial set of 60 mice, 51 completed the study. Two mice died during the intubation procedure, 3 mice 26001275 did not recover from anaesthesia following micro-CT, and 4 mice hPTH (1-34) presented CT motion artefacts. Body weights were similar between control 24272870 and OVA-sensitized mice at each endpoint. Table 1 displays experimental data from non invasive plethysmography, bronchoalveolar lavage, and histological parameters for each group. Sensitized mice from group A (Days 35?7) exhibited features of BHR to methacholine, as assessed by a significant increase in Penh ratio, characteristics of airway inflammation, as assessed by the increased percentage of both eosinophils and lymphocytes within the BAL fluid, but no evidence of bronchial remodeling as compared to control animals (Table 1, Figure 3A). Sensitized mice from group B (Days 75?7) also exhibited features of BHR to methacholine assessed by non invasive plethysmography (Table 1, Figure 4A). Similar results were obtained using invasive plethysmography (Figure 4). These mice also displayed more pronounced characteristics of airway inflammation, and additionally patterns of bronchial remodeling as assessed by the increased basal membrane thickness, wall area and bronchial smooth muscle area (Table 1, Figure 3B). In contrast, sensitized mice from group C (Days 110?112) did not show any evidence of BHR or airway inflammation but a significant increase in all previous markers of airway remodeling (Table 1, Figure 3C).Validation of a Semi-automatic Method for PBA AssessmentPBA measurements obtained with the semi-automatic method showed a good agreement with PBA values obtained with the manual method (Figure 5). The Pearson’s correlation coefficient was 0.963. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.933. The measurement error between the two methods was 19 HU. Standard BI 78D3 biological activity deviations of measurements did not correlate with mean values.Comparisons of Micro-CT ParametersThere was no difference in TLA between sensitized and control mice whatever the group (Figure 6A). Conversely, PBA was significantly higher in sensitized mice but only from the group B exhibiting both inflammation and remodeling (Figure 6B). However, normalized PBA was si.Of nucleated cells within the peribronchial space. All were measured on HES and actinstained sections, except fibrosis which was quantified on modified Masson’s trichrome stain.In Vivo Micro-CT Assessment of Airway RemodelingStatistical AnalysisValues are expressed as the mean 6 SEM, except those related to microCT for which the normality could not be rigorously established. The agreement between the semi-automatic and manual methods for PBA measurement was assessed in 10 datasets chosen at random using Bland-Altman analysis [19]. The manual method has been described previously in detail [16] and was based upon a two-dimensional analysis from multiplanar reformations. For each group, the following parameters were compared between sensitized and control mice using Mann-WhitneyWilcoxon rank sum test: weight at endpoint, Penh ratio, LR, micro-CT parameters, BAL results and histological data. Correlations between, on the one hand, PBA or normalized PBA, and, on the other hand, Penh ratio, BAL or histological data, were assessed using the Spearman rank correlation coefficients. All analyses were performed using NCSS software (NCSS 2001, Kaysville, UT, USA) and results were considered statistically significant when P-values,0.05.Results Description of the Mouse Models of AsthmaFrom an initial set of 60 mice, 51 completed the study. Two mice died during the intubation procedure, 3 mice 26001275 did not recover from anaesthesia following micro-CT, and 4 mice presented CT motion artefacts. Body weights were similar between control 24272870 and OVA-sensitized mice at each endpoint. Table 1 displays experimental data from non invasive plethysmography, bronchoalveolar lavage, and histological parameters for each group. Sensitized mice from group A (Days 35?7) exhibited features of BHR to methacholine, as assessed by a significant increase in Penh ratio, characteristics of airway inflammation, as assessed by the increased percentage of both eosinophils and lymphocytes within the BAL fluid, but no evidence of bronchial remodeling as compared to control animals (Table 1, Figure 3A). Sensitized mice from group B (Days 75?7) also exhibited features of BHR to methacholine assessed by non invasive plethysmography (Table 1, Figure 4A). Similar results were obtained using invasive plethysmography (Figure 4). These mice also displayed more pronounced characteristics of airway inflammation, and additionally patterns of bronchial remodeling as assessed by the increased basal membrane thickness, wall area and bronchial smooth muscle area (Table 1, Figure 3B). In contrast, sensitized mice from group C (Days 110?112) did not show any evidence of BHR or airway inflammation but a significant increase in all previous markers of airway remodeling (Table 1, Figure 3C).Validation of a Semi-automatic Method for PBA AssessmentPBA measurements obtained with the semi-automatic method showed a good agreement with PBA values obtained with the manual method (Figure 5). The Pearson’s correlation coefficient was 0.963. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.933. The measurement error between the two methods was 19 HU. Standard deviations of measurements did not correlate with mean values.Comparisons of Micro-CT ParametersThere was no difference in TLA between sensitized and control mice whatever the group (Figure 6A). Conversely, PBA was significantly higher in sensitized mice but only from the group B exhibiting both inflammation and remodeling (Figure 6B). However, normalized PBA was si.
