Allergen exposure may induce changes in the brainstem secondary neurons, with neural sensitization of the nucleus solitary tract (NTS), which in turn can be considered one of the causes of the airway hyperresponsiveness, a characteristic feature of asthma. We evaluated neurofunctional, morphological, and biochemical changes in the NTS of naive or sensitized rats. To evaluate the cell firing act...

Kujin contains antiallergic compounds that inhibit upregulation of histamine H1 receptor (H1R) and interleukin (IL)-4 gene expression. However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. We sought to identify a Kujin-derived antiallergic compound and investigate its mechanism of action. The H1R and IL-4 mRNA levels were determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. To investigate the effects of m...

BACKGROUND Heparin is a potential anti-inflammatory drug for allergic airway inflammation. To elucidate the effects of heparin on allergic inflammation, we examined the in vivo effects of heparin on antigen-induced mucus hypersecretion and infiltration of eosinophils and neutrophils in the nasal epithelium of sensitized rats. METHODS We induced hypertrophic and metaplastic changes of goblet c...

the present study was undertaken to investigate immunomodulatory activity of Clitoria ternatea seed and root extracts. Effects on humoral immune response were investigated in SRBCs-sensitized rats. Effects on cell medicated immunity were studied by measuring delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response in SRBC-sensitized rats. Neutrophil recruiting and phagocytosis were measured by studying neu...

The ability of endometrial stromal cells from nonsensitized rat uteri to undergo decidualization in vitro was investigated. Cells were obtained by enzymatic dispersion from uteri of ovariectomized, steroid-treated rats at the equivalent of day 4, 5 or 6 of pseudopregnancy, or on day 5 from rats treated with 0, 0.3 or 1.0 microgram oestradiol (low, intermediate or high doses of oestradiol, respe...

Performance of instrumental actions in rats is initially sensitive to postconditioning changes in reward value, but after more extended training, behavior comes to be controlled by stimulus-response (S-R) habits that are no longer goal directed. To examine whether sensitization of dopaminergic systems leads to a more rapid transition from action-outcome processes to S-R habits, we examined perf...

BACKGROUND Chronic asthma is characterized by airway inflammation and remodeling. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the effects of zileuton on bronchial hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation and airway smooth muscle (ASM) remodeling. METHODS Two experimental groups of brown Norway rats sensitized and repeatedly challenged with aerosolized ovalbumin (OA) were given oral zileuton (OA-...

Objective: Pharmacological effects of carvacrol such as its anti-inflammatory activities have been shows. In this study the effects of carvacrol on serum levels of total protein (TP), phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and histamine in sensitized guinea pigs was evaluated. Materials and Methods: Sensitized guinea pigs were given drinking water alone (group S), drinking water containing three concentration...

BACKGROUND Acid hydrolyzed wheat proteins (HWPs) are used in the food and cosmetic industry as emulsifiers. Cases of severe food allergic reactions caused by HWPs have been reported. Recent data suggest that these reactions are caused by HWPs produced by acid hydrolysis. OBJECTIVES To examine the sensitizing capacity of gluten proteins per se when altered by acid or enzymatic hydrolysis relat...