Figure 7. Schematic figure of small intestinal villus and enterocytes: AA-ORS treatment increases rapidly dividing stem cells that are Lgr5⁺, as well as proliferation markers p-Erk, p-Akt and PCNA.

The treatment also increases cleaved caspase-3, p53 and Bcl-2. The AA-ORS treatment increases villus height, increased expression of NHE3, SGLT1 and β-galactosidases thereby increasing electrolyte absorption, sodium-coupled glucose absorption, and breakdown of disaccharides at the brush border membrane, respectively. A cartoon of the enterocyte on the top right shows the functional improvement in NHE3 mediated Na⁺ absorption and glucose-coupled sodium transport with AA-ORS.