Figure 3
Loss of OSN in the LPS-treated OM. (a) The diagram represents a coronal section of the OM, including the septum, first turbinate, second turbinate and the third turbinate. Area 1 and Area 2 include the medial (gray line) and lateral (black line) portions of the OE, respectively. The thick black line indicates the most ventral part of the septum. A rectangle indicates the region that exhibited severe OSN loss and was used for quantification. (b,c) Graphs show the percentages of AC III-positive length in the Area 1 (b) and 2 (c). The AC III immunopositive area in the LPS-treated OE significantly decreased compared to saline-treated OE at Days 14 and 21 in Area 1 and at all experimental time points examined in Area 2. Statistical analyses were performed with Mann-Whitney U-test (Mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05, compared to saline-treated control at the same time points). (d–h) Both OMP-positive mature (green) and GAP43-positive immature (red) OSNs show a decline in number in the lateral part of the LPS-treated OE. (i) SOX-2 positive sustentacular and basal cells remain in the lateral part of the LPS-treated OE at Day 21. All nuclei are stained with DAPI (blue). Dotted lines indicate the boundaries of OE and mucus layer (above) or lamina propria (below). Scale bars, 50 μm. (j,k) Graphs show the densities of OMP-positive (j) and GAP43-positive (k) cells in the OE calculated from the area indicated in (a). The density of OMP-positive cells in the LPS-treated OE was significantly lower than that in saline-treated OE at all experimental time points examined. The density of GAP 43-positive cells in the LPS-treated OE was significantly lower than that in the saline-treated OE at Days 7, 14 and 21. Statistical analyses were performed with Mann-Whitney U-test (Mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05, compared to saline-treated control at the same time points).
