Figure 2.

5-FU treatment induced intestinal mucositis. (a) Morphological changes were evaluated by H&E staining, apoptosis of intestinal crypt cells was assessed by TUNEL staining (red) and proliferation of intestinal crypt cells was measured by Ki67 staining (brown), magnification × 200. (b) Villus height in the small intestine decreased with increasing therapeutic dose of 5-FU. Values are shown as the mean±S.D., n=4 in each group. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, compared with the 0-day control. (c) Crypt depth in the small intestine was decreased with increasing therapeutic dose of 5-FU. Values are shown as the mean±S.D., n=4 in each group. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, compared with the 0-day controls. (d) Intestinal crypt proliferative index measured by Ki67 staining was reduced after 5-FU treatment. Values are shown as the mean±S.D., n=4 in each group. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, compared with the 0-day control. (e) Intestinal crypt apoptotic index measured by TUNEL staining was increased after 5-FU treatment. Values are shown as the mean±S.D., n=4 in each group. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, compared with the 0-day control. (f) Blood DAO levels were examined by ELISA to estimate intestinal permeability. Blood endotoxin levels were examined by ELISA to estimate intestinal bacterial translocation. Values are shown as the mean±S.D., n=6 in each group. (g) Caspase-3 staining and TUNEL staining in the sections. (h) Cells in the intestinal crypt zone were induced to apoptosis after 5 days of 5-FU treatment