The aim of this study is to show if cyclosporine has an antiallergic role in a rat model of ovalbumin-induced allergic rhinitis. The 54 rats were divided into six equal groups. The first group was a negative control group without induced allergic rhinitis; the second group a positive control with induced allergic rhinitis not receiving treatment. The remaining four groups, after induction of allergic rhinitis, received intranasal cyclosporine treatment in doses of 0.05, 0.1, or 0.2% or nasal steroid treatment. In the biochemical examination, on the surface of the tissue tumor necrosis factor (TNF) interferon (IFN), interleukin (IL)-5, IL-13, as well as IL-2, IL-4, IL-17A, and IgE were studied. Histologically, ciliary loss, increase of goblet cells, vascular congestion, and the degree of eosinophil infiltration were rated. In all treatment groups, on average, a significant reduction in all histological and biochemical values was found compared to the positive control group. Comparing each of the three cyclosporine-using groups with the group of nasal corticosteroid did not show any significant difference in the average scores. Cyclosporine nasal drops are effective to be used in an animal model of experimental allergic rhinitis without systemic effects.
Keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Corticosteroid; Cyclosporine; Immunosuppressive; Nasal spray; Rat.