Fig. 3.

Pulmonary inflammation evaluated by assessment of (a, b) cell profile from BAL of mice and (c) activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in lung homogenates of C57BL/6 mice 3 months after repeated pharyngeal aspiration with CNC (cumulative dose of 240 μg/mouse). a, b Black columns – female mice exposed to CNC, open columns – male mice exposed to CNC. Mean absolute values from PBS-exposed control female mice were (394.4 ± 28.6)x10³, (373.8 ± 26.5)x10³, 430.0 ± 214.0, and 396.0 ± 199.0 for total cells, alveolar macrophages, PMNs and lymphocytes, respectively. Mean absolute values from PBS-exposed control male mice were (343.6 ± 40.7)x10³, (341.3 ± 40.2)x10³, 645.3 ± 204.0, and 899.4 ± 218.0 for total cells, alveolar macrophages, PMNs and lymphocytes, respectively. No significant differences were found between number of total cells, alveolar macrophages, PMNs and lymphocytes in controls from female and male mice. Mean ± SEM (n = 10 mice/group). *p < 0.05, vs control PBS-exposed mice, ^# p < 0.05, vs male mice exposed to CNC. c Open columns – control mice, black columns –mice exposed to CNC. No significant differences were found between levels of MPO measured in the lung homogenates from females and males control mice. Mean ± SEM (n = 10 mice/group). *p < 0.05, vs control PBS-exposed mice, ^# p < 0.05, vs male mice exposed to CNC