Fig. 3.

β-Carotene supplementation of ISX-deficient dams increases the number and size of lymphoid follicles in the intestine of the offspring. Pregnant Isx^−/− mice were fed with either chow or β-carotene (BC) supplemented diet, and 4 wk-old offspring were analyzed. (A) Macroscopic view of lymphoid follicles (asterisks) in different parts of the intestine of offspring. (Magnification: 12×.) (B and C) Representative H&E-stained cross sections through the entire intestine of offspring (duodenum is in the center). Lymphoid follicles are marked by asterisks. (Magnification: 20×.) (D) Quantification of the number of small and large lymphoid follicles in the intestine of offspring. (E) The percentage of CD45⁺ cells in dissected intestinal lymphoid follicles of offspring. (F) Retinoid content of the liver of offspring. Values in D and F indicate mean ± SD of results from five animals, and values in E of four lymphoid follicles from two animals per supplementation group. Threshold of significance was set at *P < 0.05 or **P < 0.01.