Abstract: AIM: To observe the realgar induced the apoptosis of eosinophils from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in asthmatic guinea pigs and investigate the mechanism that realgar treated asthma.METHODS: The morphology of apoptosis of eosinophils was observed by Giemsa staining and electron microscope.The rate of apoptosis of eosinophils was assayed by the flow cytometry.RESULTS: The characteristic changes of the apoptosis in both light microscope and electron microscope were shown after 6 hours treatment of realgar.Flow cytometry showed that the rate of apoptosis of the eosinophils was increased with both increasing realgar concentration and prolonging realgar action time to the cells.CONCLUSION: Realgar promotes the apoptosis of eosinophils from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in asthmatic guinea pig.Realgar induced the apoptosis of eosinophils is one of the causeses for asthmatic treatment.

Key words: realgar, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, eosinophils, apoptosis, asthma