[Expression of c-fos protein in brain and lung in ovalbumin sensitized rats]
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Objective:
c-fos expression and its distribution in brain and lung of ovalbumin sensitized and challenged rats were investigated.
Methods:
Asthma rat model sensitized and challenged by ovalbumin was established. c-fos expression was detected with immunohistochemical ABC and image analysis methods.
Results:
c-fos positive staining increased significantly in both brain and lung in asthmatic group as compared with normal control. (P < 0.01). c-fos positive products were mainly concentrated in frontal and parietal cortex, forebrain limbic system (cingulated cortex, piriform cortex and central amygdaloid nucleus), paraventricular thalamic nucleus, hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, supraoptic nucleus, lateral hypothalamic area, periventricular hypothalamic nucleus, nucleus of solitary tract, area postrema and ventrolateral medulla. No distinct gathering area of c-fos protein was found in the cerebellum.
Conclusion:
It is suggested that neuroimmunomodulation may play a role in the pathogenesis of asthma and c-fos protein might be involved in the neuroimmunomodulation.
