The effect of intranasal steroid on nasal mucosa in rat model of allergic rhinitis

Abstract

To investigate the effects of intranasal steroid on nasal mucosa in rat model of allergic rhinitis (AR). Thirty-six SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (each included 12 rats): the intranasal steroid group(group A),the allergic rhinitis group(group B) and the normal control group(group C). AR model was reproduced by ovalbumin in group A and B. The control group was allergized by NS instead of ovalbumin. Group A was used steroid spray in nasal and Group B and C was used normal saline. Then ,after the last provocation,the allergic symptoms were evaluated,the number of eosinophil (EOS) of the rats' nasal mucosa was counted under hematoxylineosin staining and the goblet cells was counted under alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff staining. The morphological changes of the rats' nasal mucosa were observed by scanning electron microscope. Compared with group B,the inhibition of nasal symptoms was found after used of steroid spray in group A. The EOS and the goblet cells in group A was significantly different with that in Group B (P < 0.05), but no significant differences compared with group C (P > 0.05). Observed by scanning electron microscope, the cilia of the epithelium in group B were significantly lodging, disoriented, winding and secreting,while the cilia of the epithelium in Group A and C had similar appearance. Intranasal steroid spray can relieve symptoms and inflammatory conditions of nasal mucosa in allergic rhinitis, and can repair injured nasal mucosa cilia.