Fig. 1

C57BL/6J mice were subjected to OVA sensitization followed by three challenges to OVA per week for 4 weeks or left unchallenged. A group of mice was administered, i.p., 10 mg/kg of S-NACH or saline 30 min after OVA challenge. Penh was recorded 24 h after the last challenge of week 2 and week 4 using a whole body plethysmograph system before and after the indicated concentrations of aerosolized methacholine. Mice were sacrificed 48 h after the last challenge of week 4. Lungs were subjected to formalin fixation or BAL. a Cells of BALF were differentially stained, and total cells, eosinophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes were counted. Data are expressed as total number of cells per mouse. Data are mean ± SD of values from at least 6 mice per group. Lung sections from OVA-challenged mice that were treated with either saline or S-NACH were subjected to H&E (b) or PAS staining (c). For b and c Bar = 50 μm. Inserts represent a lower magnification of sections with arrows indicating sites of inflammation. d Penh measurements. Results are plotted as maximal fold increase of Penh relative to baseline and expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 6 mice per group. For a and d *difference from control unchallenged mice, p < 0.05; ^#difference from OVA-challenged mice; p < 0.05