Figure 1
An experimental schedule of inducing AD and application of IMO stress (A), pictures of ear and skin, and skin score graph (B), and scratching bouts (C) in a mouse model of AD. (D–F) Epidermis (E) and dermis (F) thickness based on hematoxylin and eosin-stained images (D), cervical lymph node weight (G), and serum levels of CORT (H), CRH (I), ACTH (J), IFN-γ (L), and IL-6 (M) were measured. EPM data are presented as relative percentages among groups (K). In EPM test, time spent in the open arms and open arm entries/total arm entries were recorded during a 5 min test session (n = 8 mice per group) in cohort 1. The anxiety index was calculated according to Cohen et al. as follows2: Anxiety Index = 1-[([Open arm time/Test duration] + [Open arms entries/Total number of entries])/2]. At least three images of ear tissue sections per mouse were used to measure the epidermal and dermal thickness in E and F. The time points of IMO stress (a total of 5 instances) are denoted by the black arrows in C. Yellow and white bars indicate the thickness of the epidermis and dermis, respectively, in D. Scale bar = 50 μm in D. Error bars represent SEM #p < 0·05, ##p < 0·01, ###p < 0·001 versus NOR group; **p < 0·01, ***p < 0·001 versus TMA group. Two-way analysis of variance was used for EPM data. AD, atopic dermatitis; IMO, immobilization; CORT, corticosterone; CRH, corticotrophin-releasing hormone; ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone; IFN, interferon; IL, interleukin. TMA, trimellitic anhydride; NOR, normal; EPM, elevated plus maze.
