Figure 2

Dietary XOS reduced the ratio of high-responding mice. Photos of mouse ears with (a) mild, (b) moderate, and (c) severe oxazolone-induced dermatitis are shown. (d–e) Representative HE-stained cross sections of an inflamed ear with a low total histopathological score of 7 shown at 4 × and 10 × magnification. (f–h) 4 ×, 10 ×, and 40 × magnification of a representative cross section from a high responder with a total histopathological score of 10. Fibroplasia (arrows) and spongiosis (arrowheads) are seen. (i) Representative toluidine blue stained cross section from a high responder is shown at 10 × magnification. Mast cells (arrows) are seen. The degree of oxazolone-induced dermatitis was clinically scored by two blinded persons independently in mice fed either control (n = 16) or XOS (n = 16) diet when euthanized. (j) The percentage of mice expressing a high (average total score ≥ 7.5) and low (average total score < 7.5) phenotype is shown. k) Cross sections of the inflamed ears were scored blindly in mice fed control (n = 15) or XOS (n = 14) diet. The percentage of mice expressing a high (total score ≥ 10) or low (total score < 10) phenotype is shown. (l) Ear thickness was measured twice on anaesthetized mice fed control (n = 16) or XOS diet (n = 16). The average ear thickness is shown. * indicates p < 0.05.