Figure 2

Effects of orally administered PEO and 5-ASA on colon length and histopathology. Experimental groups (chronic) and disease induction are defined in Table 1. (A) The DSS receiving groups had shorter average colon length as compared to water group (healthy controls) (n = 10). The shortening was relieved significantly in PEO treated group with respect to DSS group (*, p < 0.05). (B) Histogram showing blinded histo-pathological scores (n = 5; #, p = 0.07; +, p = 0.08) (C) Representative section (×200) from healthy (water) control group showing intact goblet cells and absence of inflammatory cells (D) Representative section (×200) from DSS group showing massive inflammatory cell aggregates and extensive loss of goblet cells (E) Representative section (×200) from PEO-treated group showing partial loss of goblet cells but absence of inflammatory cell accumulation (F) Representative section (×200) from 5-ASA-treated group showing minor loss of goblet cells and moderate infiltration of inflammatory cells. M, mucosa; SM, submucosa; ME, muscularis; Goblet cells are shown with yellow triangles with black borders; Inflammatory cells are marked with white triangles with red border. Histopathology was analyzed from H&E stained colon sections (6 μm).