Resveratrol Protects Against NTHi Infection

C57BL/6 mice were purchased from the Jackson Laboratory. Anaesthetized mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with 20 mg/kg resveratrol 1 hour before or 3 hours post intratracheal inoculation with NTHi at a concentration of 5 × 10⁷ CFU per mouse or saline as control. Mice were sacrificed by intraperitoneal injection with 100 mg/kg sodium pentobarbital 6 hours after bacterial inoculation. Lung tissue was harvested for total RNA extraction as previously described41 (link). For histological analysis, harvested lung tissue was fixed with 10% buffered formaldehyde, embedded in paraffin and sectioned at 4-μM thickness. Sections were then stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) to visualize the inflammatory response. Stained sections were visualized and images were recorded under light microscopy systems (Axiovert 40 CFL, Axiocam MRC, and Axiovision LE Image system; Carl Zeiss) as previously described42 (link). All animal studies were carried out in accordance with the policies of, and with approval from, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Georgia State University.