Abstract: Objective    To observe the effect of budesonide on the eosinophil(EOS) apoptosis from nasal lavage fluid in allergic rhinitis (AR) rats. Methods    AR model was established by sensitizer of ovalbumin and aluminum hydroxide. Rats were divided into the control group (group A, n=10), the allergic rhinitis group (group B, n=10) and the budesonide group (group C, n=10). In days 31 to 38 after the establishment of AR, each rat of the group B was administrated by instillation of 50μL(1.28μg/μl) budesonide into each of the nasal cavities one time per day, while each rat of the group C was administrated by instillation of 50μL phosphate buffer in the same way. In days 39, the nasal lavage fluid was obtained to measure the percentage of the apoptotic eosinophils and eosinophils with flowcytometry. Results    The percentage of EOS in nasal lavage fluid of the group C was 5.10±0.51 which was evidently lower than that of the group B (29.37±4.33, P<0.01). The eosinophil apoptosis rate in group C was 18.48±2.84 which was evidently higher than in group B (3.36±0.50, P<0.01). Furthermore significantly negative correlation was observed between the percentage of EOS and apoptosis rate in the nasal lavage fluid (r=-0.892， P<0.05). Conclusion    Budesonide can significantly reduce the eosinophil infiltration and increase eosinophil apoptosis so as to treat allergic rhinitis.

Key words: Allergic rhinitis, Apoptosis, Nasal lavage fluid, Animal, Models, Eosinophil