Aerosolized methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction and pulmonary hyperinflation in rats.

The body plethysmography (BPG) is a useful tool for analyzing pulmonary function in small animals because it simultaneously measures airway resistance (R (aw)) and functional residual capacity (FRC). We previously described a BPG with the enclosed environment maintained at body temperature and water vapor-saturated. We found dose-dependent increases in R (aw) in response to inhaled methacholine (Mch) with no apparent increase in FRC in intratracheally intubated rats without paralysis.