Activation of α7nAChR with PNU282987 exhibits a protective effect in DSS-induced colitis in mice. C57BL/6 mice received 3% DSS in drinking water ad libitum for 7 days, PNU282987 (0.3 mg/kg, n=10; 3 mg/kg, n=10) was intraperitoneally administered daily; normal drinking water was used as the negative control. (A) Body weight loss (presented as percentage of initial weight) was evaluated every day. **P<0.01 vs. DSS-treated group. (B) Colon length of mice in each group. **P<0.01 vs. control group, ##P<0.01 vs. DSS-treated group. (C) Representative images of hematoxylin and eosin staining of colon sections; scale bar = 20 µM. (D) Histological analysis scores of the images presented in (C), **P<0.01 vs. control group, ##P<0.01 vs. DSS-treated group. All data are expressed as the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. α7nAChR, α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor; DSS, dextran sulfate sodium; PNU, PNU282987.