Validation of the biogenics research chamber for Juniperus ashei (mountain cedar) pollen

Abstract

Background: Pollen challenge chambers have been used to evaluate medication in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis under controlled conditions.

Objective: To validate a facility for the study of subjects' responses to inhalational challenges with Juniperus ashei (mountain cedar) pollen.

Methods: Two chambers, 307 m(3) and 188 m(3), seating 50 and 25 individuals, respectively, were constructed with clean room materials. The computer-controlled air handler used powered diffusers and exhausts to maintain a laminar flow. Pollen was delivered by a feeder into a vortex created by an eductor through a series of stainless steel tubes. Nonprimed mountain cedar sensitive and healthy control subjects were exposed to a masked sham air run and increasing increments of pollen during a 5-hour period outside the natural season. These individuals were then exposed for 2-hour periods for up to 4 sequential days at fixed pollen counts to demonstrate effects of priming.

Results: Airflow from diffusers and exhausts maintained 12 exchange cycles per hour. Pollen counts ranged from 1,300 to 12,000 grains/m(3). None of the subjects responded during the masked sham run. Healthy controls did not respond. Nonprimed subjects had an inadequate response. Primed subjects responded symptomatically within a period adequate for entry into studies. There were no serious adverse responses.

Conclusions: The chambers functioned within the parameters for which they were designed. Subjects did not respond to a sham run. Priming runs were required to stimulate symptoms at levels in a timeframe sufficient for pharmacologic studies. Pollen counts 3 to 4 times the average seasonal counts were required to elicit significant symptoms.