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Figure 2 | Respiratory Research

Figure 2

From: Effects of long-term low-dose oxygen supplementation on the epithelial function, collagen metabolism and interstitial fibrogenesis in the guinea pig lung

Figure 2

Changes in BAL cells, BAL/Serum Alb and TP ratio. Broncho-alveolar infiltrating cells (top panel) were expressed as × 102 counts/mg lung tissue. The average count of BAL cells was higher in the 40% oxygen group than in the 21% oxygen group. The increase was statistically significant after 2 weeks of exposure. BAL cell counts in the 40% oxygen 2 week-, 4 week- and 8 week-exposure group were significantly increased as compared to those in the pre-exposure group. After 72 hour exposure to 90% oxygen, BAL cell counts were increased as compared to the pre-exposure level. n = 9 in the pre-exposure group; 8 (2 weeks), 9 (4 weeks), 6 (8 weeks) and 5 (16 weeks) in the 40% oxygen exposure groups; n = 4 (2 weeks), 8 (4 weeks), 5 (8 weeks) and 5 (16 weeks) in the 21% oxygen exposure groups; n = 5 (24 hours), 4 (48 hours), 5 (72 hours) and 8 (96 hours) in the 90% oxygen exposure groups. The BAL/Serum Alb ratios (middle panel) in the 40% oxygen groups did not differ from those in the 21% exposure groups at any of the durations examined. The Alb ratio in the 40% or 21% oxygen 16 week-exposure group was significantly increased as compared to those in the pre-exposure group. This increase, however, did not differ between the 40% and the 21% oxygen groups. After 96 hours of exposure to 90% oxygen, the Alb ratio was increased as compared to the pre-exposure level. n = 5 in the pre-exposure group; 8 (2 weeks), 9 (4 weeks), 6 (8 weeks) and 6 (16 weeks) in the 40% oxygen exposure groups; 6 (2 weeks), 7 (4 weeks), 5 (8 weeks) and 6 (16 weeks) in the 21% oxygen exposure groups; 5 (24 hours), 5 (48 hours), 5 (72 hours) and 6 (96 hours) in the 90% oxygen exposure groups. The BAL/Serum TP ratios (bottom panel) in the 40% oxygen groups did not differ from those in the 21% exposure groups at 2, 4 and 8 week-exposure periods. After 16 weeks of exposure, the BAL/Serum TP ratio in the 40% oxygen group was higher than that in the 21% 16 week-exposure group. The BAL/Serum TP ratio in the 40% oxygen 8 and 16 week-exposure groups and the 21% oxygen 4 and 16 week-exposure groups were significantly increased as compared to those in the pre-exposure group. After 96 hours of exposure to 90% oxygen, the increased TP ratio was not statistically significant as compared to the pre-exposure level. n = 5 in the pre-exposure group; 8 (2 weeks), 7 (4 weeks), 6 (8 weeks) and 5 (16 weeks) in the 40% oxygen exposure groups; 6 (2 weeks), 8 (4 weeks), 5 (8 weeks) and 6 (16 weeks) in the 21% oxygen exposure groups; 5 (24 hours), 5 (48 hours), 5 (72 hours) and 5 (96 hours) in the 90% oxygen exposure groups. Values are expressed as means ± SD; * p < 0.05 as compared to the value of the 21% oxygen exposure duration-matched control. + p < 0.05 and ++ p < 0.01 as compared to the value of the pre-exposure group.

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