Figure 2

Changes in the pulmonary resistance after challenge. Box plots of the pulmonary resistance (RL) within 10 min after challenge in asthmatic rats (n = 14, sensitized and challenged with OVA) and controls (n = 15, sensitized and challenged with normal saline). The RL values are expressed as differential values subtracted from the corresponding baseline values (Figure 1). Mild outliers (○) are cases with values between 1.5 and 3 box lengths from the upper or lower edge of the box. Extreme outliers (+) are cases with values more than 3 box lengths from the upper or lower edge of the box. As measured using the Kruskal-Wallis test, the differences in the RL at each time point in the asthmatic group, but not in the control group, were significant (p < 0.01). Significant differences in the RL were observed between the two groups at 1-6 min (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, Mann-Whitney test) with a maximum increase in asthmatic rats observed 2 min after challenge.