Figure 5

Desipramine and fluoxetine do not reduce bronchial hyper responsiveness in sensitized rats. Unsensitized control rats (Cont) were nebulised with ovalbumin. Ovalbumin-sensitized rats were treated with saline (OVA+saline), prednisolone (OVA+Pred), desipramine (OVA+DMI) or fluoxetine (OVA+Fluo) at 10 mg/kg prior to nebulisation with ovalbumin. Rats (n = 6–7 per group) were then challenged with metacholine 24 h after ovalbumin nebulisation. Enhanced pause (Penh), which reflects airway obstruction, was measured by barometric plethysmography before (Pre-Mch) and after (Post-Mch) the challenge. * p < 0.05 versus OVA+saline, by Student t test.