FIG. 2.

Effects of synthetic human −2 RANTES on the vaginal mucosa in the Swiss Webster mouse model. Swiss Webster mice were inoculated intravaginally with 60 μl of −2 RANTES (1 mg/ml). The genital tracts were harvested from the mice at 30 min, 2 h (C and D), 4 h, 8 h, and 24 h (E and F) following application. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) for gross morphological analyses of the surface epithelium (A, C, and E). Immunohistochemical analyses were also performed for the detection of CD45-positive stained cells, as indicated by arrows (B, D, and F). The inset in panel B magnifies cells staining positive for CD45. Two independent experiments were performed with three mice per time point, and representative tissue sections are presented. PBS-treated mice (2 h) (A and B) and 1% N-9-treated (data not shown) mice were included in each experiment as reference controls.