Screening models for anti-asthmatic drugs are essential tools in B.Pharm education and research, combining in vivo and in vitro assays to evaluate bronchoconstriction, airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation, and remodeling. Familiarity with common models—ovalbumin-induced allergic models, methacholine or histamine challenges, isolated tracheal strip assays, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analysis, and forced oscillation technique—helps students interpret pharmacological screening results, select appropriate positive controls (β2‑agonists, corticosteroids, leukotriene antagonists) and understand biomarkers (IgE, eosinophils, IL‑4/IL‑5). Recognising strengths, limitations, ethical considerations and endpoints improves experimental design and translational relevance for anti-asthmatic drug discovery. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. Which animal model is most commonly used for ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma studies?
- Guinea pig
- Rat
- Mouse
- Rabbit
Correct Answer: Mouse
Q2. Which technique gives precise invasive measurements of airway mechanics in small animals?
- Whole-body plethysmography
- Forced oscillation technique
- Spirometry
- Exhaled breath condensate analysis
Correct Answer: Forced oscillation technique
Q3. Methacholine challenge induces bronchoconstriction primarily through activation of which receptor?
- β2 adrenergic receptor
- Histamine H1 receptor
- Muscarinic M3 receptor
- CysLT1 receptor
Correct Answer: Muscarinic M3 receptor
Q4. Which in vitro preparation is widely used to assess bronchodilator activity on airway smooth muscle?
- Isolated heart perfusion
- Isolated tracheal chain/strip assay
- Isolated liver slice
- Isolated kidney tubule assay
Correct Answer: Isolated tracheal chain/strip assay
Q5. Elevation of which cell type in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) is a hallmark of allergic airway inflammation?
- Neutrophil
- Eosinophil
- B cell
- Platelet
Correct Answer: Eosinophil
Q6. Which cytokine is most closely associated with eosinophil growth, activation and survival in Th2-driven asthma?
- IFN-γ
- IL-5
- IL-17
- TNF-α
Correct Answer: IL-5
Q7. Which drug is commonly used as a positive control bronchodilator in screening assays?
- Salbutamol
- Prednisone
- Montelukast
- Cromolyn sodium
Correct Answer: Salbutamol
Q8. Leukotriene D4 mediates bronchoconstriction mainly via which receptor?
- H1 receptor
- M3 receptor
- CysLT1 receptor
- β2 adrenergic receptor
Correct Answer: CysLT1 receptor
Q9. Which sample is routinely collected to assess pulmonary cellular inflammation and mediators in animal models?
- Serum
- Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)
- Urine
- Saliva
Correct Answer: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)
Q10. Which adjuvant is commonly used with ovalbumin to sensitize mice in allergic asthma models?
- Complete Freund’s adjuvant
- Aluminium hydroxide (alum)
- Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
- Poly I:C
Correct Answer: Aluminium hydroxide (alum)
Q11. Which mediator challenge causes immediate bronchospasm in guinea pig airway models and is used to screen antihistaminics?
- Methacholine
- Histamine
- Ovalbumin
- IL-13
Correct Answer: Histamine
Q12. Measurement of which serum parameter is commonly used to assess systemic allergic sensitization in models?
- Serum IgE by ELISA
- Serum glucose
- Serum creatinine
- Serum albumin
Correct Answer: Serum IgE by ELISA
Q13. What is a major criticism of Penh derived from whole-body plethysmography in rodents?
- It requires surgical tracheotomy
- It is an indirect parameter poorly correlated with true airway resistance
- It measures only blood gases
- It provides direct cytokine levels
Correct Answer: It is an indirect parameter poorly correlated with true airway resistance
Q14. Which mechanical measurement technique applies oscillatory pressure to determine respiratory system impedance?
- Forced oscillation technique
- Whole-body plethysmography (Penh)
- Forced expiratory volume measurement
- Pulse oximetry
Correct Answer: Forced oscillation technique
Q15. Release of which mediator from mast cells contributes to immediate bronchoconstriction?
- Interleukin-10
- Histamine
- Procollagen
- Insulin
Correct Answer: Histamine
Q16. Which drug class exerts anti-inflammatory effects in asthma partly by inducing lipocortin and inhibiting phospholipase A2?
- β2 agonists
- Corticosteroids
- Leukotriene receptor antagonists
- Anticholinergics
Correct Answer: Corticosteroids
Q17. Which in vitro assay directly measures contraction of airway smooth muscle strips to bronchoconstrictors?
- Transwell migration assay
- Tracheal strip contractility assay
- ELISA for cytokines
- Flow cytometry
Correct Answer: Tracheal strip contractility assay
Q18. Montelukast targets which pathway to reduce bronchoconstriction?
- Histamine H1 pathway
- Leukotriene D4 pathway
- Prostaglandin synthesis
- M3 muscarinic pathway
Correct Answer: Leukotriene D4 pathway
Q19. A cytokine profile showing elevated IL-4 and IL-13 indicates predominance of which immune response?
- Th1 response
- Th2 response
- Th17 response
- Treg response
Correct Answer: Th2 response
Q20. What ethical framework is most relevant when planning animal screening studies for anti-asthmatic drugs?
- Cost‑benefit analysis only
- The 3Rs: Replace, Reduce, Refine
- Maximize animal numbers for power
- No ethical oversight required
Correct Answer: The 3Rs: Replace, Reduce, Refine
Q21. Capsaicin challenge in animal models is primarily used to study which airway response?
- Bronchodilation
- Cough reflex and sensory nerve activation
- Eosinophil recruitment
- IgE production
Correct Answer: Cough reflex and sensory nerve activation
Q22. To model airway remodeling seen in chronic asthma, which experimental approach is used?
- Single acute ovalbumin challenge
- Chronic repeated ovalbumin challenges over weeks
- Single methacholine dose
- Short-term saline exposure
Correct Answer: Chronic repeated ovalbumin challenges over weeks
Q23. Which invasive measurement directly quantifies airway resistance in experimental animals?
- Penh index from whole-body plethysmography
- Airway resistance (RL)
- Serum IgE level
- Exhaled nitric oxide only
Correct Answer: Airway resistance (RL)
Q24. Which laboratory animal is preferred for cough and airway sensory studies due to similarity to human airway reflexes?
- Mouse
- Guinea pig
- Rat
- Chicken
Correct Answer: Guinea pig
Q25. Which noninvasive biomarker measured clinically and in some models reflects airway eosinophilic inflammation and oxidative stress?
- Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)
- Serum creatinine
- Blood glucose
- Urinary albumin
Correct Answer: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)
Q26. Which agent is commonly used to induce a neutrophil-dominant airway inflammation model?
- Ovalbumin alone
- Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
- IL-4 administration
- Montelukast
Correct Answer: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
Q27. A decrease in BALF eosinophil counts after treatment primarily indicates which pharmacological effect?
- Bronchodilation
- Anti-inflammatory activity
- Analgesic effect
- Antimicrobial action
Correct Answer: Anti-inflammatory activity
Q28. β2 agonists produce bronchodilation by acting on which receptor subtype in airway smooth muscle?
- M3 muscarinic receptor
- β2 adrenergic receptor
- Histamine H1 receptor
- CysLT1 receptor
Correct Answer: β2 adrenergic receptor
Q29. Which in vitro method is suited to quantify eosinophil or neutrophil chemotaxis toward chemoattractants?
- Transwell migration assay
- Western blot for actin
- ELISA for total protein
- Patch‑clamp electrophysiology
Correct Answer: Transwell migration assay
Q30. What is a major limitation of isolated tissue assays (eg, tracheal strips) when screening anti-asthmatic drugs?
- They allow systemic immune interactions
- They lack systemic immune and neurogenic interactions seen in whole organisms
- They measure whole‑body physiology accurately
- They are the best models for airway remodeling
Correct Answer: They lack systemic immune and neurogenic interactions seen in whole organisms
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com