Figure 2.

Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise decreases airway smooth muscle (ASM) thickness in OVA-treated mice. Mice were OVA treated and exercised as described in Materials and Methods. At the conclusion of the protocol, whole lung tissues were harvested and prepared for peroxidase staining and ASM thickness measurements with MetaMorph software. (A–D) Representative images of lung tissue stained for α–smooth muscle actin and probed with peroxidase (×40 magnification). Arrows indicate ASM layer; asterisks indicate airway lumen. (E) Results of Metamorph analysis are presented as ASM thickness in microns (^†P < 0.02, as compared with sedentary, saline-treated mice; *P < 0.02, as compared with sedentary, OVA-treated mice; n = 4–8 mice per group). Open bars, sedentary mice; solid bars, exercised mice.