Figure 5.

(a) Histological examination of H and E-stained ileum from WT and DKO mice. Bar, 500 μm. (b) DKO mice show blunted, shortened villi compared with WT mice (P<0.001, n=8). (c) DKO mice show a significant increase in the number of goblet cells. Goblet cells were counted in 20 full-length villi and crypts per mice and a total of eight WT and DKO mice were analyzed. The values obtained were averaged per villi and crypt for each tissue sample. Asterisk denotes statistically significant values compared with wild-type mice, P<0.01. (d) Spontaneous apoptosis in the small intestine of DKO mice. Arrowheads point to apoptotic cells in villi of DKO mice identified by TUNEL assay. Data are from one representative experiment typical of eight other with similar results. Bar, 150 μm. (e) Control and irradiated small intestinal crypts and villi of WT and DKO mice (4 h after 8 Gy radiation) were analyzed for apoptotic cells. Apoptotic cells were defined using the TUNEL assay. Data are from one representative experiment typical of eight other with similar results. Bar, 400 μm. (f) The effects of 8 Gy irradiation on apoptosis in WT and DKO mice. Apoptotic cells were scored in 50, well-oriented crypt-villus units per section of the proximal half of the small intestine. At least three sections were analyzed per mouse. Control, non-irradiated DKO mice had more apoptotic cells than WT littermates (^*P<0.05, n=8). γ-Irradiated-DKO mice had significantly more apoptotic cells compared with WT mice (^#P<0.01, n=8). (g and h) Apoptotic villus cells in irradiated DKO mouse small intestine. Arrowheads indicate apoptotic cells identified by TUNEL assay. (h) A higher magnification of (g). Data are from one representative experiment typical of eight other with similar results. Bars, 200 μm (g) and 100 μm (h)