Fig. 1

Exacerbation of dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) symptoms in CGRPβ knockout (KO) mice. (a) Schematic diagram of the experimental model: the UC model was prepared in wild-type (WT), CGRPα KO, and CGRPβ KO mice by allowing them to consume 3% DSS through drinking water for 5 days. (b) Disease activity index (DAI), scored and integrated for rate of weight loss, faecal blood, and diarrhoea, over 5 days. For each experiment, n = 5, for all the mice groups. Error bars represent standard deviation (SD). Weight loss rate (c), blood stool score (d), and diarrhoea score (e) over 5 days of DSS consumption. (f) Images of haematoxylin and eosin (HE)-stained colon tissue sections from WT, CGRPα KO, and CGRPβ KO mice with and without DSS treatment. The black scale bar represents 100 μm. (g) Pathology scores were calculated based on HE-stained images performed on colon tissue after 5 days of DSS treatment. The experiment was performed using the same number of mice for which DAI scores were obtained, and representative HE staining results are shown. Error bars represent SD. p-values were determined using one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc correction. *p < 0.05 for WT vs. CGRPβ KO, **p < 0.01 for WT vs. CGRPβ KO, ***p < 0.0001 for WT vs. CGRPβ KO, ^#p < 0.05 for CGRPα KO vs. CGRPβ KO, ^##p < 0.01 for CGRPα KO vs. CGRPβ KO, ^###p < 0.0001 for CGRPα KO vs. CGRPβ KO.