Figure 6.

Histological evaluation of colitis development after dietary consumption. (A) C57BL/6 mice at 7–8 weeks of age received either casein-containing diet (CAS diet) or diet containing free amino acids (AA diet) for 7 days. Then, experimental diets were replaced by commercial mouse chow and colitis was induced by administration of 1% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) for 7 days. During colitis development, mice received commercial chow. Clinical scores (B) were evaluated after colitis induction using a scoring system, which included loss of body weight, diarrhea, and presence of blood in the stools. Colon length (C) was evaluated after the DSS consumption. Representative images of CAS- and AA-fed mice after colitis induction (D) are shown. Statistical analysis was performed between CAS-fed and AA-fed group at the end of each experimental time point using Mann–Whitney test for non-parametric data. p < 0.05.