title: Attenuated allergic inflammatory response in the lungs during lactation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the influence of lactation on lung immune function during allergic inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female rats, 60-90days old, were divided into three groups: no lung allergy virgins (N group), ovalbumin (OVA)-immunized and sensitized virgins (V group), and OVA-immunized and sensitized lactating females (L group). On gestation day (GD) 10, all animals in L group received a subcutaneous injection of 0.1mg·kg(-1) OVA plus aluminum hydroxide. On GD17, the L group received a subcutaneous booster injection of 10μg OVA plus 10mg aluminum hydroxide. After 7days, an inhalatory challenge with 1% OVA was given in 15min sessions for 3 consecutive days. Animals from the V group received the same treatment, meaning both tests and time intervals between OVA treatment and inhalatory challenge were the same as in the L group. Twenty-four hours after the last inhalation session, the animals were euthanized, and the following tests were performed: total and differential bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and femoral marrow lavage (FML) leukocyte counts, quantification of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interferon γ (IFN-γ) levels in BAL fluid, and quantification of plasma corticosterone and catecholamine levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The L group presented lower BAL total leukocyte counts and decreases in the number of eosinophils and macrophages compared with the V group. They also expressed higher BAL IFN-γ and lower plasma corticosterone levels. Plasma norepinephrine levels were higher in the L group than in the N and V groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lactating female rats presented less intense allergic lung inflammation. Our findings suggest that lactation may protect females from asthmatic crises.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Recursos Naturales, Programa de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad de los Llanos, Villavicencio, Colombia.
authors.forename: Julieta E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ochoa-Amaya
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Santo Amaro, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Larissa P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carla N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Tobaruela
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lilian B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Namazu
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Atilio S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Calefi
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Margatho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vagner
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nicolle
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Queiroz-Hazarbassanov
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marianne O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palermo-Neto
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biofotônica Aplicada às Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana P Ligeiro
authors.initials: APL
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de O Massoco
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: lfelicio@usp.br.
authors.forename: Luciano F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Felicio
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007774:Lactation / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010047:Ovalbumin; D003345:Corticosterone
keywords: Asthma; Lactation; Lung; Prolactin