Fig. 3

Schematic diagram of OVA-induced AR rat model and DEX-Gel inhibited mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines. A SD rats were sensitized with 50 µg OVA together with 4 mg Alum (400 µL) by intraperitoneal injection on days 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14. On days 21–34, except for group control, SD rats were stimulated with intranasal drops of 1250 µg/20 µL OVA daily. From day 21 to 34, group Rhinocort or DEX was treated with nasal drops of 50 µg/20 µL Rhinocort or DEX; group AR was challenged with PBS; group Gel or DEX-Gel was treated with nasal submucosa injection of 800 µg/200 µL Gel or DEX-Gel on days 21. All SD rats were sacrificed on day 35. B, C, D The number of nasal rubbings, sneezing and allergic scores of rats after treatment (n = 5). E–J The mRNA expression of different inflammatory factors in the nasal mucosa was determined by RT-qPCR (n = 3). Data are expressed as mean ± SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001, significantly different from the ANOVA group