Fig. 5.

Effects of non-mucoadhesive or mucoadhesive formulations containing BP/CL on the expression of apoptosis and cell proliferation markers in the intestinal tissue of mucositis-bearing mice induced by 5-FU. Formulation doses or blank formulation were administered orally (gavage) to mice over 6 days, while doses of 5-FU (200 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally from 4th to 6th day. On day 7, animals (n = 5 mice/group) were euthanized and the small intestine of each mice was collected for Ki-67, p53, Bax and Bcl-2 detection by immunohistochemistry. Photomicrographs are representative of each treatment group. (^**p < 0.01 and ^***p < 0.001 vs. control; ^##p < 0.01 and ^###p < 0.001 vs. 5-FU. ANOVA and Bonferroni test).