Anaphylaxis Imaging: Non-Invasive Measurement of Surface Body Temperature and Physical Activity in Small Animals

Abstract

In highly sensitized patients, the encounter with a specific allergen from food, insect stings or medications may rapidly induce systemic anaphylaxis with potentially lethal symptoms. Countless animal models of anaphylaxis, most often in BALB/c mice, were established to understand the pathophysiology and to prove the safety of different treatments. The most common symptoms during anaphylactic shock are drop of body temperature and reduced physical activity. To refine, improve and objectify the currently applied manual monitoring methods, we developed an imaging method for the automated, non-invasive measurement of the whole-body surface temperature and, at the same time, of the horizontal and vertical movement activity of small animals. We tested the anaphylaxis imaging in three in vivo allergy mouse models for i) milk allergy, ii) peanut allergy and iii) egg allergy. These proof-of-principle experiments suggest that the imaging technology represents a reliable non-invasive method for the objective monitoring of small animals during anaphylaxis over time. We propose that the method will be useful for monitoring diseases associated with both, changes in body temperature and in physical behaviour.

Anaphylactic hypotension causes renal and adrenal sympathoexcitaion and induces c‐fos in the hypothalamus and medulla oblongata

“…The sympathetic branch to BAT plays an important role in thermoregulation and energy metabolism; increased BAT‐SNA caused thermogenesis and metabolic activation (Morrison et al., ; Scislo et al., ; Tanida et al., ), while decreased BAT‐SNA evoked hypothermia and metabolic inhibition (Kannan, Niijima, & Yamashita, ). Interestingly, since anaphylaxis caused hypothermia in conscious mice (Manzano‐Szalai et al., ), BAT‐SNA was expected to be inhibited during anaphylactic hypotension. However, this did not occur in the current study.…”

“…Further, body temperature decreases (Manzano-Szalai et al, 2016) and blood catecholamine levels increase during anaphylactic hypotension Zhang, Shibamoto, Kuda, Ohmukai, & Kurata, 2011). However, the responses of BAT-SNA and adrenal SNA to anaphylactic hypotension are currently not known.…”

“…Conversely, although the sympathetic branch to brown adipose tissue (BAT) contributes to the regulation of energy metabolism and thermogenesis (Morrison, Madden, & Tupone, ; Tanida et al., ; Tupone, Cano, & Morrison, ), it does not have barosensitivity to blood pressure changes (Morrison, ). Further, body temperature decreases (Manzano‐Szalai et al., ) and blood catecholamine levels increase during anaphylactic hypotension (Wang et al., ; Zhang, Shibamoto, Kuda, Ohmukai, & Kurata, ). However, the responses of BAT‐SNA and adrenal SNA to anaphylactic hypotension are currently not known.…”

Cow’s milk protein β-lactoglobulin confers resilience against allergy by targeting complexed iron into immune cells

“…Body temperature and movements were monitored for 20 minutes by using the Imaging system (Biomedical International R1D GmbH, Vienna, Austria). 55 After the mice had been humanely killed with CO 2 , blood was collected by cardiac puncture and sera were stored at 2808C until further processing. Spleens and lungs were collected.…”

Virus-like Particle (VLP) Mediated Antigen Delivery as a Sensitization Tool of Experimental Allergy Mouse Models

“…On the day of challenge, rHEL protein was prepared in PBS, was then given intravenous retro-orbital (RO) ( 23 24 ), IP ( 25 ), or intranasally (IN) ( 26 ).…”