Fig. 5.

Effect of HS or normal saline (NS) treatment on macroscopic and histological appearance of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Treatment with 7.5% HS (4 and 8 ml/kg), bid ip, but not with NS resulted in a marked reduction of inflammatory tissue damage in DSS mice. Healthy mice served as controls. As shown in A, after 7 days of DSS treatment, the colon was hyperemic with gross blood in the cecum and a lack of formed stool pellets. In HS-treated DSS mice, only mild hyperemia and no gross bleeding was observed. Stool pellets were seen in the colonic lumen of HS-treated mice and controls. Colons from mice treated with DSS + NS, on the other hand, still showed evidence of inflammation and poorly formed stools. B: corresponding histological appearances. In colonic sections of mice receiving DSS alone, severe epithelial damage (block arrow) and dense PMN infiltration was seen (note infiltrating PMN in the submucosa). A similar appearance was seen in NS-treated mice. In HS-treated mice, only slight inflammation was seen (hematoxylin and eosin staining).