Figure 2. Effect on histologic signs of colonic inflammation by roflumilast.

Mice were exposed to 3.5% DSS in drinking water for 11 days and were treated with roflumilast (either 1 or 5 mg/kg/d orally once daily for 11 days, n = 8) or 4% methocel (n = 5). Non-DSS mice received 5 mg/kg/d roflumilast (n = 8) or 4% methocel (n = 5). At day 11 mice were euthanized, colon rings were stained and the histologic score (degree of inflammation and tissue damage: 0 = no changes to 6 = extensive cell infiltration and tissue damage) was determined in a blinded fashion as described in the Materials and Methods. A. Representative cross sections of the transversing colon. Magnification of the images is 200-fold. B. Scores are depicted as means ± SEM.