TABLE 1.

Cecal histology scores for IL-10-deficient mice moved as adults from germfree conditions to Helicobacter-negative SPF conditions or introduced to an SPF environment as juveniles

Mouse group	No. of mice examined	Age at colonization (weeks)	Duration of colonization (weeks)	Cecal scorea
IL-10 deficientb	3	20–24	5	3.67 ± 0.33
IL-10 deficient	2	20–24	7	3.13 ± 0.125
IL-10 deficient, raised SPF	22	0c	6–38	1.48 ± 0.17*

^aValues are means ± standard errors of the mean. *, significantly different from other values (P < 0.05). 

^bIL-10-deficient mice raised germfree and then colonized as adults with SPF bacteria documented to be free of Helicobacter. 

^cMice were colonized from birth.