[Experimental studies for botulinum toxin type A on allergic rhinitis in the rat].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of botulinum toxin-A on inhibiting rhinorrhea, on expression of VIP at nasal mucosa, on morphometrical change with an immunohistochemical and histological methods in rats allergic rhinitis.


METHODS
Ovalbumin sensitized the rat as animal model of allergic rhinitis. Animals were divided into control group (n = 8), allergic group (n = 12), allergic animal treated by BTX-A group (n = 6). VIP immunoreactivity at nasal mucosa in the rat allergic rhinitis was studied by immunohistochemical. The morphometrical changes at nasal mucosa were observed by histological staining methods.


RESULTS
The results showed that the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, nasal rhinorrhea and sneezing, were remarkably relieved after ovalbumin application in the rat. The nasal rhinorrhea symptom diminished after BTX-A treated. The quantity of nasal secretion were significantly reduced(P < 0.05) in allergic one treated by BTX-A group as compared with allergic group. Hematoxylin and eosin staining demonstrated that no edema, small vessels were found in the nasal mucosa and after BTX-A treatment, but edema, vasodilational and inflammational cell infiltration were observed in the allergic group. Immunohistochemical study revealed that VIP immunoreactive fibers in the nasal mucosa showed a marked decrease after BTX-A application, but the density and a large number of VIP fibers were significantly found in the allergic group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggested that local BTX-A treatment was a selective and non-traumatic method to reduce a long lasting desensitization of the nasal mucosa, to alleviate nasal congestion, rhinorrhea and sneezing, and to reduce the sensory neuron sensitivity of the mucosa.
Wen
Wei-dong
WD
Department of Oral and Plastic Surgery, 473th Hospital of Chinese PLA, Lanzhou 730070, China. wwdzy@sina.com
Yuan
Fang
F
Hou
Yi-ping
YP
Song
Yan-feng
YF
D000818:Animals; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010047:Ovalbumin; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*
D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D010047:Ovalbumin; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A