Figure 4.

Histological analysis of the small intestine after dietary consumption. C57BL/6 mice at 7–8 weeks of age were fed either experimental diet [diet containing free amino acids (AA diet)] or control diet [casein-containing diet (CAS diet)] for 5 weeks. Intestinal permeability was determined by% dose/g of 99 m-technetium (99mTc)-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA) in blood (A). Representative images of CAS-fed and AA-fed mice after 35 days of dietary consumption (B). Analysis and measurement of goblet cell numbers (C), and thickness of the submucosa (D) were performed in at least three mice per group at 40× magnification. Analysis was performed at 10× magnification. Statistical analysis was performed between CAS-fed and AA-fed group using Mann–Whitney test for non-parametric data. p < 0.05.