Andrea Bianchi1, Gerard Raffard2, Olga Ousova1, Annag Ozier1, Yannick Crmillieux1
1Centre de Recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Universit Bordeaux Segalen, Bordeaux, France; 2Centre de Rsonance Magntique des Systmes Biologiques, Universit Bordeaux Segalen, Bordeaux, France
In this study we present the MRI investigation of a realistic model of asthma in mice (ovalbumin sensitization without aluminum hydroxide), mimicking the first steps in the development of the disease in humans. The small peribronchovascular inflammation, almost three times less than in the models with alum, was visualized and quantified thanks to the improvements over the typical lung images allowed by the use of an Ultra-Short Echo Time (UTE) sequence; the inflammation was also correlated with the enhanced pause of the mice measured with a plethysmograph, an important means of quantification of airways hyperresponsiveness in mice.