Figure 5.

Short-term treatment with sex hormones inhibits the Ca²⁺ response from human conjunctival goblet cells cultured from male and female cells to the inflammatory mediator LTB₄. Cultured goblet cells from male and female conjunctiva were treated with DHT, E1 or E2 (10⁻⁷ M) or vehicle for 30 min prior to addition LTB₄ (10⁻⁸ M). [Ca²⁺]_i was measured by fura2 assay. The average [Ca²⁺]_i level over time was shown in (A and C); Change in peak [Ca²⁺]_i was calculated and shown in (B and D). Data are mean ± SEM, n = 6 for male cells and n = 6 for female cells. Black lines (A) and solid bars (B) indicate data from male cells. Grey lines and slash-patterned bars indicate data from female cells. *Significance difference from basal. ^#Significance difference between male and female cells.