TABLE 4.
Median apoptotic indices in the ileum and ileal PP of control rabbits with and without colonization by indigenous Enterobacteriaceae as evaluated by the TUNEL assay and by apoptotic morphology (H&E staining)a
| Intestinal tissue | Median (range) apoptotic index (%)
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Enterobacteriaceae | No Enterobacteriaceae | |
| Tips of ileal absorptive villi | 3.7 (2.8–16.8), 4.7 (3.5–9.4) | 2.7 (1.6–5.3), 2.2 (1.5–6.5) |
| Ileal crypts | 1.2 (0.3–2.6), 0.8 (0.4–1.8) | 0.3 (0.3–0.7), 0.4 (0.2–0.5) |
| Tips of PP absorptive villi | 3.8 (3.8–8.1), 3.8 (2.4–5.6) | 3.6 (2.1–6.4), 3.5 (2–5.8) |
| PP domed villi | 8.1 (6.7–10), 8.1 (6–9.8) | 8.9 (2.7–13.7), 8.8 (5.2–14) |
| PP germinal center | 10.9 (8.5–11), 12.8 (9.4–17.5) | 17.9 (3.5–44), 19.4 (6–31.2) |
a
Values determined by the TUNEL assay are followed by those determined by H&E staining. A total of 10 randomly selected fields was assessed at each intestinal site.