Transepithelial migration of eosinophils in experimental nasal allergy in guinea pigs

We examined eosinophil-migration through the nasal epithelium into nasal cavity in a guinea pig model exhibiting 8-day passive cutaneous anaphylaxis antibody-dependent nasal allergy. Transmission electron microscopic observation of this process revealed that eosinophils traversed the epithelium through the intercellular space and split the tight-junctions of epithelial lining cells. Freeze-fracture studies of this process showed that the morphology of tight-junction was not changed after eosinophil-migration. These observations may indicate that tight-junctions close after eosinophil-migration.