Table 1.

Observations of disease activity in 25 inflamed and 20 recovered preparations, and histopathology in three of each during treatment with 2% dextran sulphate sodium and subsequent recovery after 21 days

	Disease activity			Histology
Days DSS	Index score	Stool consistency	Occult or gross bleeding	Mucosal ulceration	Basal cell hyperplasia	Oedema	Crypt destruction
1	0	Normal	Negative	−	−	−	−
2	0	Normal	Negative	−	−	−	−
3	1	Loose	Negative	−	−	−	−
4	1	Loose	Negative	+	+	+	+
5	2	Loose	Positive	++	++	+	+
6	3	Diarrhoea	Positive	++	++	++	++
7	4	Diarrhoea	Positive	++	++	+++	+++
Recovery	0	Normal/Loose	Negative	−	−	−	−

Severity of histological findings is indicated as: −, +, mild; ++, moderate; +++, severe; according to standard diagnostic criteria. Disease activity index is calibrated as described in the Methods.