Flow cytometry images.

<p>Flow cytometry images.</p

Lung histopathology.

<p>Lung histopathology was examined by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining in (A1 and A2) mice in the normal control group, (B1 and B2) mice in the asthma control group, and (C1 and C2) mice in the <i>M</i>. <i>vaccae</i> prevention group. The normal control group showed complete airway epithelium mucosa, ordered cilia, thin basilar membranes and smooth muscle, a smooth and glossy lung small vascular endothelium, no inflammatory cell infiltration, few goblet cells (A1), and no mucus secretion (A2). The asthma control group showed cellular swelling of the airway epithelia, increased plicae mucosae, disordered cilia, broken bronchial mucous membranes, infiltration of inflammatory cells, a thickened alveolar wall and basilar membrane, hyperplasia of the smooth muscle (B1), proliferation and hypertrophy of the airway epithelia and goblet cells, generous mucus and mucus plugs, and desquamation of the epithelia (B2). The <i>M</i>. <i>vaccae</i> group showed no obstruction of the airway lumen and ordered epithelia (C1), and no goblet cells or mucus secretion (C2).</p

Experimental protocol.

<p><i>M</i>. <i>vaccae</i>: <i>Mycobacterium vaccae</i>; Neb.: nebulization.</p

Flow cytometry results.

<p>#<i>P</i> < 0.001, compared with the normal control; ##<i>P</i> < 0.001, compared with the asthma control; *<i>P</i> < 0.05, compared with the normal control; **<i>P</i> < 0.01, compared with the asthma control.</p

Airway hyperresponsiveness.

<p>^#<i>P</i> < 0.05, <i>M</i>. <i>vaccae</i> group vs. normal control group.</p