Figure 7.

Propionate treatment augments ozone-induced AHR in male, but not female, mice. (A–C) Mice were treated with sodium propionate (50 mM) or control (PBS, 50 mM) via their drinking water and exposed to room air or ozone. (A) Airway responsiveness of female mice. (B) Airway responsiveness of male mice. (C) BAL neutrophils. The male mice were part of a larger group (14), but were exposed and studied at the same time as the female mice. (D and E) Ffar2 and Ffar3 mRNA abundances in colons of male and female mice exposed to air or ozone. Results are expressed relative to the female air-exposed mice. Results are mean ± SE of data from four air-exposed and eight ozone-exposed mice per group. *P < 0.05 compared with air-exposed mice of the same sex; ^#P < 0.05 compared with male mice; ^%P < 0.05 compared with control water-treated mice.