Fig. 5.

Histological observations of the gastric mucosa.

(A) Normal control group: Clear glands and intact mucosa with abundant submucosal vessels were observed (H&E stain × 100). (B) TPH treatment group: Increased number of glands and submucosal granulation tissue regeneration were observed in the bases of ulcers along with regenerated capillaries. The gastric mucosa significantly healed (H&E stain × 100). (C) TPH treatment group: Increased number of glands and submucosal granulation tissue regeneration were observed in the bases of ulcers along with regenerated capillaries. The gastric mucosa significantly healed (H&E stain × 400). (D) TP-treated group: Severe mucosal anabrosis and depletion with ulceration were observed. The reepithelialization of gastric mucosa increased in the TP-treated group than in the model control group; however, no significant histological difference was found between the TP and the model control groups (H&E stain × 100). (E) Model control group: Severe mucosal anabrosis and depletion with ulceration were observed (H&E stain × 100). (F) The histological scoring for the crawling length of gastric epithelial cells from three groups. After treatment with TPH, the crawling length of gastric epithelial cells was significantly longer than in the TP and model control groups (P < 0.05). No statistical significance was observed in the mucosal epithelial crawling length between the TP and the model control groups after treatments (P > 0.05).

H&E stain = hematoxylin-eosin stain, TPH = attenuated Salmonella typhimurium strain carrying a eukaryotic expression vector encodes the human HGF gene, TP = attenuated Salmonella typhimurium strain with a eukaryotic expression vector.

^*P < 0.01, TPH group vs. TP and control groups.