Research Paper Volume 8, Issue 11 pp 3065—3090

Figure 5. Effects of chemically-induced (compound 48/80) activation of mesenteric mast cells on activation of NF-κB in mesentery close to mesenteric lymphatic vessels in adult (9 mo, n=4 for control and n=4 for each treatment group) and aged (24 mo, n=4 for control and n=4 for each treatment group) rats without and with coinciding blockade of mast cell activation by cromolyn, or blockade of all types of HRs using a mixture of HR blockers. Upper panels – representative images of adult (9-mo) mesenteric segments labeled for phospho-NF-κB p65 (in red) in sham (ctrl) conditions and following treatment with 48/80, 48/80 with cromolyn and 48/80 with HR blockers. Lower panels demonstrate images of aged (24-mo) mesenteric segments labeled for phospho-NF-κB p65 (in red) after the similar treatments. Graph in the middle shows a comparison of pixel intensity of phospho-NF-κB p65 per 100 μm² under various conditions in the two age groups. * indicates significant difference (p < 0.05, one-way ANOVA) between 48/80-treated mesenteric segments and segments under all other treatments within each age group. # indicates significant difference (p < 0.05, one-way ANOVA) between adult and aged mesenteric segments in groups with similar treatments.