Figure 1  .

Representative illustration of the developmental pattern of cytokine expression in the small intestinal mucosa from suckling rats. (A) RT-PCR analysis of transforming growth factor β1 and β2 (TGF-β1, TGF-β2), transforming growth factor α (TGF-α), tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) in the duodenum, proximal jejunum, and distal ileum of 14, 18, 21, and 60 day old rats. (B) Densitometric analysis of the specific bands normalised to the corresponding values of β-actin mRNA used as internal control; mean (SEM) of values (expressed as percentages of the relative intensity of the bands at 14 days) obtained from three independent experiments. Significant differences compared with values obtained in 14 day old suckling rats (unpaired t test): *p<0.05, **p<0.01.