Figure 6.

Effect of topical tacrolimus, fluocinonide, and base on staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) enhancement of sensory C-fiber proliferation, expression of tachykinin NK1 receptors and endothelial cells in rat pups. Tacrolimus (.1%), fluocinonide (.05%), and base were topically applied to the skin of rat pups treated with SEB as in Figure 1. Seven days after injection, skin sections were analyzed by immunofluorescence for proliferation of sensory C-fibers (SP, upper panels, using substance P antibody), expression of tachykinin NK1 receptors (NK1R, middle panels) and endothelial cells (End, lower panels). Dotted lines outline the borders of the dermis. Bars=50 μm. The photographs are representative of 6 independent experiments.