Figure 7

Effects of inhibiting c-kit and MC degranulation on pulmonary MCs in rats with MCT- induced PH. Rats were treated with selective c-kit inhibitor (PLX), MC stabilizer (Cromolyn), imatinib or placebo from day 21 to 35 after MCT-injection. The rats in healthy group received saline injection instead of MCT. The lung tissue sections were stained with toluidine blue (TB). The TB-stained MCs were counted throughout the tissue sections and (A) total MCs were determined. Perivascular MCs were examined to determine the index of granulation (IOG). (B) IOG (in %) is given. Each bar represents Mean ± SEM (n = 6-8). *p < 0.05 versus healthy; ^†p < 0.05 versus MCT-placebo group. Scale bar = 20 μm.