FIGURE 9.

CCL7^−/− mice display reduced mast cell recruitment in allergen-induced conjunctivitis. Conjunctival tissue of wild-type control mice and CCL7^−/− mice sensitized and challenged with OVA and saline was harvested, fixed, serially sectioned, and stained for mast cells using toluidine blue or chloroacetate esterase staining. (A) Total mast cell number was counted in toluidine blue–stained conjunctival tissue 3 h after final Ag or control challenge. (B) Chloroacetate esterase–stained conjunctival tissue from OVA-sensitized wild-type and CCL7^−/− mice was examined to detect the localization of mast cells (red) (arrows) 3 h after the final Ag challenge. Original magnification ×10. Data are mean ± SEM and are representative of four separate experiments (n = 7 per group). *p < 0.05, Student t test.