US EPA

8299799 

Journal Article 

Skin-organ culture as an approach in evaluation of nitric oxide (NO) involvement in contact hypersensitivity expression 

Kataranovski, M; Milojević, G; Kandolf, L; Milosević, V 

2002 

Yes 

Acta Dermatovenerologica Alpina, Pannonica et Adriatica
ISSN: 1318-4458 

11 

1 

3-10 

English 

Objective. Contact hypersensitivity (CHS) is a local inflammatory response of the skin following challenge of hapten-sensitized animals. The intensity of inflammation could be quantified by ear swelling, a classical manifestation of contact hypersensitivity. In this study, skin-organ culture system was employed to evaluate involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in the expression of CHS in rats. Methods. Nitrite accumulation in conditioned medium (CM) of rat ear skin following challenge with DNCB was determined by Griess assay. The experiment was conducted on two genetically different rat strains (AO and DA), which differ in the magnitude of ear swelling response. Results. Dose-dependent increase in nitrite levels was noted in CM following application of 0.65% and 1.3% DNCB to the ears of sensitized rats of both strains. The response was higher in DA rats, displaying a more vigorous ear swelling. Correlation between ear swelling and the levels of nitrites in CM of both strains was found. Decrease in nitrite levels was noted in CM in the presence of aminoguanidine, a known inhibitor with marked specificity for the inducible isoform of the NO synthase in rodents. Conclusion. Presented data demonstrated the utility of skin organ-culture system in detection of NO production during the expression of CHS. 

Contact hypersensitivity; Nitrites; Skin organ culture