Table 2.

Mean (±S.D.) morphometric values for small intestine toxicity indicators in control mice (0.000 mg/g, N = 4) and mice administered 0.125 mg/g (N=8), 0.5 mg/g (N=7), and 1.0 mg/g (N=6) muricid extract (ME). Significant differences between controls and extract doses are indicated by * (Tukey, P < 0.05; Mann-Whitney, P < 0.017).

Intestine region	ME dose (mg/g)	Villous height (cells/villi)	Villous cell density (cells/µm)	Crypt depth (µm)
Duodenum	0.000	74.25 ± 15.43	0.18 ± 0.06	75.81 ± 16.36
	0.125	82.29 ± 16.32*	0.19 ± 0.07	65.18 ± 10.69*
	0.500	82.85 ± 18.88*	0.24 ± 0.07*	74.12 ± 14.79
	1.000	82.58 ± 13.73*	0.21 ± 0.05*	64.62 ± 14.45*
Ileum	0.000	38.96 ± 8.70	0.19 ± 0.06	62.33 ± 14.08
	0.125	35.51 ± 8.23*	0.22 ± 0.11*	60.68 ± 9.81
	0.500	37.68 ± 7.39	0.21 ± 0.06	64.13 ± 15.83
	1.000	37.07 ± 6.78	0.18 ± 0.03	70.19 ± 17.27*