Figure 6.

Effect of ramosetron on activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8 in the intestinal crypt induced by 5-FU in mice. Animals were administered 5-FU (50 mg·kg⁻¹, i.p.) and killed 1 day (24 h) after the administration of 5-FU. Ramosetron (RAM, 0.1 mg·kg⁻¹) was administered p.o. twice, 0.5 h before and 8 h after the administration of 5-FU. The activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8 (A, 500×) were determined immunohistochemically using anti-cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-8 antibodies respectively. The numbers of cells immunopositive for caspase-3 (B) and caspase-8 (C) were counted in the intestinal crypt using a microscope. Data are presented as the means ± SEM from six mice. Significant differences at P < 0.05; *from control (C, vehicle alone); ^#from normal (N, 5-FU-untreated).