Figure 4.

Effects of astaxanthin on the NF-κB activity and cell proliferative activity in the colonic mucosa of experimental mice. Sections of the colon were stained with (A) anti-phospho-NF-κB p65 or (B) anti-PCNA antibodies, respectively. Representative photographs from each group are shown in the upper panels. The positive cell indices, which were determined by counting (A) phospho-NF-κB p65-positive cells or (B) PCNA-positive cells in the colonic crypts, are shown in the lower panels. Original magnification, 200×. Bars, SD of triplicate assays. *P < 0.001, **P < 0.01