TABLE 1.
Scores of histopathological lesions found in the airways of untreated or AZM-treated mice intranasally infected with NTHI 375 or NTHI 353
| Strain | AZM treatmenta | Score (mean ± SD)b |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper airways |
Larynx-trachea |
Lung |
||||||||
| PMNs in lumen | PMNs in lamina propria | Hyperemia | PMNs in lumen | PMNs in lamina propria | Bronchial PMNs | Hemorrhage | Alveolar PMNs | Alveolar macrophages | ||
| NTHI 375 | Control | 2.4 ± 0.3 | 2.3 ± 0.3 | 1.4 ± 0.2 | 1 ± 0.5 | 1.4 ± 0.2 | 2c,e | 1.1 ± 0.5e | 0d,f | 0.13 ± 0.13d,f |
| Prior to infection | 1.5 ± 0.4 | 1.2 ± 0.3 | 0.8 ± 0.1 | 0.2 ± 0.1 | 1 | 0.7 ± 0.2e | 0.8 ± 0.2 | 1.1 ± 0.1f | 0.6 ± 0.1 | |
| Postinfection | 2.1 ± 0.4 | 1.6 ± 0.1 | 1.3 ± 0.3 | 0.3 ± 0.1 | 1.4 ± 0.2 | 0.6 ± 0.2e | 0e | 1.5 ± 0.3f | 0.9 ± 0.2f | |
| NTHI 353 | Control | 2 ± 0.1 | 1.6 ± 0.2 | 1.4 ± 0.2g | 0.4 ± 0.1 | 1.2 ± 0.3 | 0.5 ± 0.1c | 0.6 ± 0.2 | 1.3 ± 0.3d | 1.2 ± 0.1d,h |
| Prior to infection | 1.7 ± 0.4 | 1.5 ± 0.2 | 1.3 ± 0.2 | 0.4 ± 0.1 | 1.3 ± 0.3 | 1 ± 0.4 | 0.8 ± 0.3 | 1.2 ± 0.3 | 1.1 ± 0.1 | |
| Postinfection | 1.8 ± 0.3 | 1.2 ± 0.2 | 0.6 ± 0.2g | 0.5 ± 0.2 | 1.1 ± 0.1 | 0.5 ± 0.2 | 0.6 ± 0.2 | 0.4 ± 0.1 | 0.5h | |
Control, animals administered vehicle solution; prior to infection, three AZM doses were administered, 24, 12, and 1 h before infection; postinfection, one AZM dose was administered, at 6 h postinfection.
Statistical comparisons of mean values were performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Fisher's PLSD multiple-comparison test.
More recruitment of PMNs at the bronchi of mice infected with NTHI 375 than at those of mice infected with NTHI 353 (P < 0.0001).
Larger proportions of PMNs and alveolar macrophages at the alveoli of mice infected with NTHI 353 than at those of mice infected with NTHI 375 (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively).
Reductions of inflammatory lesions for bronchial PMNs in mice treated with AZM prior to and after NTHI 375 infection (P < 0.0005) and of lung hemorrhage in mice treated with AZM after NTHI 375 infection (P < 0.05), compared to controls.
Larger numbers of PMNs (for mice treated prior to and after infection [P < 0.01]) and alveolar macrophages (for mice treated postinfection [P < 0.05]) at the alveoli of AZM-treated animals than at those of controls infected by NTHI 375.
Less hyperemia in the upper airways of mice treated with AZM after NTHI 353 infection than in those of control mice (P < 0.05).
Decreased recruitment of alveolar macrophages during NTHI 353 infection of animals treated with AZM postinfection compared to that of controls (P < 0.0005).