There are several ways of inducing and measuring anaphylaxis in mice, and the choice depends on the question that you want to answer.
- Intradermal injection of antigen-specific IgE (into one of the ears) followed by intravenous injection of antigen (often OVA-TNP) mixed with evans blue dye induces (passive) cutaneous anaphylaxis. Evans blue dye extravasation in the IgE-sensitised and control (vehicle-injected) ear can be scored visually or quantified by absorbancy measurements. Ear thickness (swelling) can also be measured.
- Intravenous injection of antigen-specific IgE followed by injection of antigen induces (passive) systemic anaphylaxis. Rectal temperature should be monitored (temperature is severely reduced upon anaphylactic response). Serum mMCP-1 (mast cell protease) levels can be measured.
- Active systemic anaphylaxis requires sensitization to the antigen, followed by intravenous injection of the antigen. Rectal temperature should be monitored.
Note that all the procedures require careful monitoring of the mice.
Yes indeed, drop in the rectal temperature is a recurrent sign of anaphylaxis in mice after antigens challenge; you have also physical sign such as muzzle swelling, oedema and blue coloration of the tail or the skin, itching and abdominal pain (if it is a food allergy induced protocol) observed by the fact the mouse is laying down on its belly. You can also measure the ear swelling after antigen injection in the ear.
For the assessement of the reaction after the death, you can measure specific Ige, level of MCP1 and histamine in the serum, you can also assess the inflammation (TH2 cells, TH17, eosinophils, macrophages...) in various organs depending on where you induced your anaphylaxis (skin, intestine...)