Figure 2. Epimorphin deletion increases colonic crypt cell proliferation in nondysplastic epithelium after AOM/DSS treatment.

Mice were treated with AOM/DSS; 90 minutes prior to sacrifice, they were injected with 120 mg/kg 5-BrdU intraperitoneally. Colon sections were incubated with anti–5-BrdU antibody, and antigen antibody complexes were detected with streptavidin-biotin. (A) Labeling index was calculated as the number of 5-BrdU–labeled cells/total number of cells per crypt (WT, n = 8; Epim^–/–, n = 6). (B and C) WT (B) and Epim^–/– (C) descending colon immunostained to detect 5-BrdU. Original magnification, ×100. *P < 0.05.