Fig. 3

BAL cell numbers time course analysis reveals most dynamic PMN accumulation between 12 and 18 h after CNP exposure: The numbers of total BAL cells, alveolar macrophages (AM) and neutrophils (PMN) were determined by BAL cell differentiation from cytospin preparations of mice treated with 20 μg CNP for 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 h, and 3 or 7 days and compared to untreated controls. Most notable changes were observed for PMNs which are almost absent in controls (<1 %) but reach greatest numbers 18 and 24 h after exposure. Values are given as mean ± SEM, n = 5–10, asterisks represent significance as compared to control group with * p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001. BAL lymphocyte numbers were below 1 % of total BAL cells in all groups (data not shown)