alcian-blue and Asthma

Multifunctional granular mast cells (MCs) are among targets in bronchial asthma (BA) therapy. We studied pulmonary MC population in a rat model of BA under the effect of β-adrenoreceptor antagonists and of the latter combined with the standard therapy (glucocorticoid budesonide + β2-adrenergic agonist salbutamol). MCs of different degrees of maturity were identified on paraffin section of lung stained with Alcian blue and Safranin. MC density in the lung of rats with BA increased 1.9 times. Alcian blue-positive immature cells predominated in the lungs of both intact rats and rats with BA. In response to pharmacological agents, the mean MC densities were reduced in 2-2.7 times in all the variants of experiments and were close to the norm. It allows us to suppose that MCs migration from the outside was suppressed and, in consequence of the decline of MC densities, the release of the mediators involved in the progression of BA may be diminished.

Topics: Adrenergic beta-Agonists; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Albuterol; Alcian Blue; Animals; Anti-Asthmatic Agents; Asthma; Bisoprolol; Budesonide; Cell Count; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Therapy, Combination; Glucocorticoids; Lung; Male; Mast Cells; Metoprolol; Phenazines; Rats; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta