Fig. 5

Soluble elastin in BALF from control animals and animals treated with a single instillation of gastric fluid and studied at 4, 12 and 24 h and at day 4 after instillation, as determined by Western blotting. a The immunoblot shows that the control sample exhibits only a 70 kDa band, likely corresponding to tropoelastin. This band is significantly enlarged at 4 h, remains enlarged at 12 and 24 h and returns to control level at day 4. The 35–50 kDa bands, not present in the control sample, are present only at 4, 12 and 24 h after instillation. b Densitometric analysis of the 70 kDa Western blot band (n = 6) expressed as times over control. After a significant increase in band density at 4 h, a progressive reduction to reach control level at day 4 is seen. Data are presented as median values, interquartile range and range. **: p < 0.01; ***: p < 0.001 with respect to controls and day 4. c Densitometric analysis of the 35–50 kDa Western blot bands corresponding to elastin-degradation fragments (n = 6) expressed as times over control. These band densities increase significantly at 4 h, remain elevated at 12 and 24 h and return to control levels at day 4. Data are presented as median values, interquartile range and range. ***: p < 0.001 with respect to controls and day 4. h: hours, d: days