VCBP-C and chitin localization in stomach sections of adult DSS- and CMP-treated animals. In control animals, chitin (A, arrows) and VCBP-C (B, arrows) are detected in granules that predominantly co-localize (C, arrows) to the stomach grooves. In 1% DSS treated animals, chitin-rich granules are overexpressed in the crypts and along the epithelium (D, arrows); VCBP-C (E, arrows) production is increased and distributed evenly among the gut epithelium. Chitin and VCBP-C co-localization is observed in some region along gut epithelium (F, arrows). In 0.5% DSS-treated animals, chitin detection in the granules is reduced (G) and VCBP-C (H) no longer is detectable in granules at the epithelial crypts, but instead is localized along the epithelium. Co-localization of chitin and VCBP-C no longer is observed (I). In stomach sections of animals treated with 0.5% DSS and CMPs, fewer chitin granules are detected in stomach grooves (J, arrows), also where VCBP-C granules are observed (K, arrows), co-localization of these molecules can be observed in the same grooves (L, rectangle). In CMP-treated animals, chitin- (M, arrows) and VCBP-C-rich (N, arrows) granules are detected and co-localize (O, arrows) mainly in the stomach grooves, as observed in control untreated animals. Animals observed, n=8 for CTR, DSS 1%, DSS 0.5% conditions; n=6 for CMPs and CMPs/DSS 0.5% conditions. Inserts, magnification of the area delimitated by rectangles. Scale bars: 100 µm.