ABSTRACT
AIM: To explore the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of hypoxia inhalation on asthma. METHODS: Guinea pigs were randomized into the normal group(NG), asthmatic group(AG) and the hypoxia inhalation-treated group(HITG). The model of asthma was established in the latter two groups through sensitization and induction with 10% ovalbumin(OA) and 1% OA, respectively. The animals in HITG were treated with hypoxia inhalation (13.0%?0.5% O 2/N 2 mixed gas). The content of serum cortisol, the number of eosinophils(EOS) and percentage of hypodense eosinophils(HEOS) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF),the number of CD 4 +T-lymphocyte in peripheral blood(PB) and the tension of airway muscle were determined. RESULTS: (1)The content of serum cortisol was significantly higher in NG and HITG than in AG( P