Nitric Oxide Synthase Enzymes in the Airways of Mice Exposed to Ovalbumin: NOS2 Expression Is NOS3 Dependent
Figure 9
Semiquantitative analysis of NOS2 staining intensity from NOS1 and NOS3 mouse strains exposed to filtered air or OVA. Immunohistochemical staining intensity and consistency of stain in the (a) airway epithelium, (b) smooth muscle of the airways and vasculature, and (c) macrophage populations were scored on a scale of 0–10. Filtered air-exposed NOS1 and NOS3 mice displayed uniform increases in NOS2 protein staining limited to the smooth muscle of airways and vasculature and the airway epithelium with no change in macrophages. OVA-exposed NOS3 mice had a significant reduction in NOS2 staining in the airway epithelium and smooth muscle compared to their filtered air-exposed counterparts. In contrast, OVA-exposed NOS1 mice maintained NOS2 protein staining in the airway epithelium and a significant increase in NOS2 in the macrophage population. Data are presented as mean values ± SEM (); denotes by ANOVA.
