Figure 4

Cell numbers in BAL fluid obtained 24 hours after challenge from SAL/WT mice (white bars), SAL/eNOS mice (hatched bars), OVA/WT mice (black bars) and OVA/eNOS mice (grey bars). A) total cell numbers in BAL fluid. Total cell numbers are increased in OVA/WT mice compared to SAL/WT mice. Total cell numbers are decreased by 47% in OVA/eNOS mice compared to OVA/WT mice. B) number of alveolar macrophages in BAL fluid. The number of macrophages is increased in SAL/eNOS mice compared to SAL/WT mice. Numbers of macrophages were 4 times increased in OVA/WT mice compared to SAL/WT mice. No difference in macrophages was observed between OVA/eNOS and OVA/WT mice. C) number of lymphocytes in BAL fluid. Hardly any lymphocytes could be detected in SAL/WT and SAL/eNOS mice. A markedly increased number of lymphocytes were found in OVA/WT mice compared to SAL/WT mice. A 54% reduction in lymphocytes was found in OVA/eNOS mice compared to OVA/WT mice (p < 0.05). D) number of eosinophils in BAL fluid. No eosinophils were present in the BAL fluid of SAL/WT mice and SAL/eNOS mice (ND = not detectable). A dramatic increase in eosinophils was detected in OVA/WT mice compared to SAL/WT mice. Compared to OVA/WT, there was a 46% reduction in the increase in eosinophils in the BAL fluid in OVA/eNOS mice (p < 0.001). Data are presented as mean ± SEM, n = 9. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, ^$$ p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 compared to SAL/WT mice, ^# p < 0.05, ^### p < 0.001 compared to OVA/WT mice.