Experimental Asthma in Guinea Pigs Revisited

Experimental asthma in guinea pigs, as defined in 1937 by Kallos and Pagel, and the pertinent literature are reviewed. The relation between guinea pig asthma and human asthma bronchiale is established. The underlying mechanism in both processes is the misdirected (aberrant) formation of anaphylactic or reaginic (IgE) antibody against innocuous antigens, leading at renewed exposure to the antigen to release of mast cell mediators (such as histamine, SRS-A, eosinotactic peptides, PAF), bronchoconstriction, vasodilation and eosinophilic inflammation at the sites of antigen-antibody reactions in the tissues of the respiratory organs.