How is rhinitis treated in rats? - briefly
Experimental rhinitis in rats is typically treated with intranasal corticosteroids (e.g., budesonide) and systemic antihistamines to reduce inflammation and allergic responses. Saline irrigation is used for mucosal clearance, and antibiotics are prescribed when bacterial infection is confirmed.
How is rhinitis treated in rats? - in detail
Rats with experimentally induced nasal inflammation are usually treated with a combination of pharmacologic agents, supportive measures, and environmental modifications. The choice of therapy depends on the underlying cause—allergic, infectious, or irritant—and on the severity of symptoms.
Pharmacologic interventions include:
- Antihistamines such as cetirizine or diphenhydramine administered orally or intraperitoneally to block histamine‑mediated vasodilation and mucus production. Typical doses range from 5 mg kg⁻¹ to 10 mg kg⁻¹ once daily.
- Glucocorticoids delivered intranasally (e.g., budesonide spray) or systemically (e.g., dexamethasone 0.5 mg kg⁻¹ subcutaneously) to suppress inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine release. Treatment periods of 3–7 days are common in acute models.
- Leukotriene receptor antagonists like montelukast (10 mg kg⁻¹, oral) used when eosinophilic inflammation predominates.
- Mast‑cell stabilizers (cromolyn sodium, 50 mg kg⁻¹ intranasal) applied before allergen exposure to prevent degranulation.
- Antibiotics (e.g., enrofloxacin 10 mg kg⁻¹, subcutaneous) for bacterial rhinitis confirmed by culture or PCR. Therapy continues for 5–10 days, guided by susceptibility testing.
Supportive care comprises:
- Saline nasal lavage (0.9 % NaCl, 0.5 ml per nostril) performed twice daily to clear mucus and reduce crust formation.
- Humidified chambers maintaining relative humidity at 50–60 % to prevent mucosal drying.
- Analgesics (e.g., meloxicam 1 mg kg⁻¹, oral) to alleviate discomfort associated with nasal congestion.
Environmental controls include:
- Allergen avoidance in models of allergic rhinitis; removal of bedding or feed components known to provoke IgE responses.
- Air filtration to eliminate particulate irritants that may exacerbate inflammation.
Evaluation of therapeutic efficacy typically involves:
- Clinical scoring of nasal discharge, sneezing frequency, and respiratory rate.
- Histopathology of nasal mucosa to assess epithelial integrity, edema, and inflammatory cell infiltrates.
- Cytokine profiling (IL‑4, IL‑5, TNF‑α) in nasal lavage fluid using ELISA kits.
- Airflow measurements (rhinomanometry) to quantify functional improvement.
Standardized protocols recommend initiating treatment within 24 hours of symptom onset, maintaining consistent dosing intervals, and recording all observations in a blinded manner to minimize bias. Proper analgesia and humane endpoints are essential to comply with institutional animal care guidelines.