Figure 4.
Representative RT–PCR amplification of mRNA for iNOS and COX-2 in lungs of rats exposed with SEA (panel a). Lung extracts were assessed for enzymes mRNA expression from PBS or SEA (3.0 ng trachea−1, 4 h)-treated rats. GAPDH was used as the internal standard. Positive controls were carried out using rats endovenously injected with LPS (0.3 mg kg−1, 12 h). In the panels above, the respective mRNA levels were estimated by densitometry of the bands (panel b, iNOS; panel c, COX-2). *P<0.05 compared with respective PBS groups.