Figure 1

Timeline of the experimental protocol. The guinea pigs underwent 7 inhalations (2 per week with 2- to 3-day intervals over 4 weeks) with aerosols of normal saline or ovalbumin solution and increasing doses of antigen. For the 1^st through the 4^th inhalations, the dose used was 1 mg/mL of ovalbumin (2 weeks). In the 5^th and 6^th inhalations (3^rd week), the animals inhaled 2.5 mg/mL of ovalbumin, and for the 7^th inhalation (beginning in the 4^th week) 5 mg/mL of antigen was used. Treatment with 1400W started 30 minutes before the 7^th inhalation and was given daily until the oscillatory mechanics assessment. The solution of ovalbumin or normal saline was continuously aerosolized for 15 minutes or until respiratory distress occurred. Seventy-two hours after the 7^th inhalation, the animals were anesthetized, exsanguinated, and their lungs were removed for oscillatory mechanics measurement. Nor-NOHA (10 μM) was infused in the bath during the evaluation of oscillatory mechanics.