DOES AIRWAY RESPONSIVENESS INCREASE AFTER SKIN SENSITIZATION TO 3-CARENE - A STUDY IN ISOLATED GUINEA-PIG LUNGS

Guinea pigs were sensitised by dermal exposure to 3-carene according t o the modified cumultative contact enhancement test (CCET) protocol. L ungs from sensitised and non-sensitised animals were then perfused wit h buffer and exposed for a period of 10 min to two different air conce ntrations of 3-carene, 600 and 3000 mg/m(3). 3-Carene caused a statist ically significant bronchoconstriction even at the relatively low conc entration of 600 mg/m(3) and the constriction was dose dependent. 600 mg/m(3) of 3-carene caused a reduction of 19% in conductance capacity and 16% in compliance capacity. 3000 mg/m(3) of 3-carene decreased lun g compliance and conductance by 43 and 31%, respectively. The lungs fr om sensitised animals tended to show a greater response than lungs obt ained from control animals. The lower concentration of 3-carene is clo se to and may even be below, occupational limit values in Sweden, Germ any and USA. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserve d.