Figure 4

(A,B,C) Supplementation of TGF-β2 enriched fraction reduced MTX induced villus atrophy due to stem cell proliferation inhibition. Villus length (A) and crypt depths (B) were measured from different regions in the small intestine at day 4 (n=4 per group) from rats receiving either placebo (closed bars) or the TGF-β2 enriched fraction (open bars). Statistical differences between the MTX control group only receiving placebo (hatched bars) or TGF-β2 enriched fraction (squared bars) are indicated with #(P<0.05). At least 60 microscopical measurements were made per animal, at a magnification of 10 × per rat. Bars show mean±s.d. for three rats per group. In Figure (C), BrdU incorporation is shown as length in per cent of control, measuring from the lowest BrdU positive crypt cell until the highest BrdU positive cell upon the villus axis. Lengths were measured in different regions of the small intestine at day two from four rats per group receiving placebo (closed bars) or TGF-β2 enriched fraction (open bars). Statistical differences are indicated with #(P<0.05).