Figure 5. NOS2 ablation improves emphyatous phenotype resulting from the absence of SP-D.

The number of alveoli per lung N(alv, lung) (A) is increased whereas the number-weighted mean volume of alveoli (alv) (B) is decreased in the DiNOS mice compared to Sftpd^−/− mice, indicating an attenuation of the pulmonary emphysema due to the additional ablation of the iNOS-gene in Sftpd deficient mice. Data shown are mean and individual data, n = 5–6 animals per genotype. Statistically significant differences between groups are shown in Table 2.