Abstract
More antigen penetrates the tracheal epithelium of rats when they have been sensitised prior to challenge via the airways. The present study examines the mechanism of this increased penetration by measuring the passage of (electron-dense) lanthanum into the respiratory epithelium.
Rats were sensitised by injection with DNP19-ovalbumin (DNP-OA) or saline. The rats were challenged for 10 minutes with an aerosol of DNP-OA, bovine gamma globulins or saline. Within one minute of completion of challenge the trachea was immersed in a fixative containing 1% lanthanum nitrate. Subsequently, the lanthanum concentration in the epithelium was measured by planimetric analysis of electron micrographs and by X-ray static probe microanalysis.
The proportion of lanthanum-stained intercellular boundaries was greater in the tracheas from the DNP-OA sensitised and challenged group than in the other experimental groups (p<0.05). X-ray microanalysis confirmed that more lanthanum was present in the tracheal epithelium of these rats (p<0.05). The quantity of lanthanum penetrating correlated (R=0.74) with the severity of the mechanical respiratory response.
The results show that antigen challenge of sensitized subjects leads to increased permeability between the epithelial cells. The intercellular route could be used by antigen or released agonists to enhance sub-epithelial activation.
Support from the Welcome Trust is gratefully acknowledged.
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Carswell, F., Mukherjee, S. 35 AEROSOL CHALLENGE ALTERS THE PERMEABILITY OF THE TRACHEA IN SENSITIZED RATS. Pediatr Res 20, 1039 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198610000-00089
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198610000-00089