Multi-capillary column-ion mobility spectrometer (MCC-IMS) breath analysis in ventilated rats: a model with the feasibility of long-term measurements

J Breath Res. 2014 Mar;8(1):016006. doi: 10.1088/1752-7155/8/1/016006. Epub 2014 Feb 24.

Abstract

Rats are commonly used in medical research as they enable a high grade of standardization. The exhalome of ventilated rats has not as yet been investigated using an ion mobility spectrometer coupled with a multi-capillary column (MCC-IMS). As a first step, a rat model has to be established to measure potential biomarkers in the exhale with long-term settings, allowing constant and continuous analysis of exhaled air in time series. Therefore, eight animals were anaesthetized, prepared and ventilated for 1 h. A total of 73 peaks were directly detected with the IMS chromatogram. Thirty five of them were assigned to the ventilator system and 38 to the animals. Peak intensity varied within three measurements. The intensity of analytes of individual rats varied by a factor of up to 18. This new model will also enable continuous measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from rat's breath in long-term experiments. It is hoped that, in the future, variability and progression of VOCs can be monitored in different models of diseases using this set-up.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breath Tests / instrumentation*
  • Breath Tests / methods*
  • Exhalation / physiology
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Hemodynamics
  • Humans
  • Ions
  • Male
  • Models, Animal
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Respiration, Artificial*
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Ions