Figure 1.

Effect of fiber-enriched diets on pulmonary responses to O₃. Male and female mice were fed either control, cellulose-enriched, or pectin-enriched diets for 3 days. Mice were then exposed to room air or to O₃ (2 ppm for 3 h) and evaluated 24 hours later. Shown are (A) body weight measured before exposure, (B) airway responsiveness of male mice exposed to air or O₃, (C) airway responsiveness of female mice exposed to air or O₃, (D) BAL neutrophils, (E) BAL macrophages, and (F) BAL protein. Note that for airway responsiveness, the air-exposed cellulose–treated mice virtually overlap with the air-exposed pectin–treated mice. Results for ozone-exposed mice are mean ± SE of data from eight mice per group and were gathered over 7 and 4 experimental days, respectively, in male and female mice. On each day, control, pectin-fed, and cellulose-fed mice were studied. Results for air-exposed mice are mean ± SE of data from six mice per group and were gathered over 4 and 3 experimental days for male and female mice, respectively. *P < 0.05 compared with air, ^†P < 0.05 compared with control diet–fed mice, ^‡P < 0.05 compared with cellulose-enriched diet–fed mice, and ^§P < 0.05 compared with male mice. Evaluation of the effects of diet and ozone was done within each sex. Evaluation of sex differences was performed by combining data from both sexes. Airway responsiveness and BAL neutrophil data for the male mice were previously reported (13) and are shown here for comparison with the female mice, which were studied within the same time frame. R_RS = respiratory system resistance.