Figure 5
Schematic diagram of the induction of the DSS colitis mouse model. (a) After keeping ad libitum feeding for 1 week, Uro A 100 mg/kg was administered orally twice daily for male wild-type mice. Subsequently, DSS was administered through the drinking water for 7 days. The mice were euthanized under anesthesia 7 days after initiating DSS treatment. (b, c) The entire colon was resected from the cecum to the anus, and the colon length was measured as an indirect marker of intestinal inflammation. Significant shortening of the intestinal length is observed in the control group (control group (n = 6); 54.2 ± 2.6 mm, Uro A group (n = 6); 62.2 ± 5.8 mm, p = 0.018, Wilcoxon rank sum test). (d) Effects of Uro A administration on the DAI. The Uro A group show a markedly reduced DAI after 1 week of DSS administration (control group (n = 6); 5.7 ± 1.2, Uro A group (n = 6); 3.0 ± 1.9, p = 0.033, Wilcoxon rank sum test). (e) Hematoxylin–eosin staining of tissue sections shows marked inflammatory cell infiltration in the mucosa and submucosa with destruction of gland duct structures in the control group. In contrast, inflammatory cell infiltration and destruction of gland duct structures are mild in the Uro A group. DSS, dextran sulfate sodium; Uro A, urolithin A, DAI, disease activity index.
