Skip to main content

Table 3 Effects of NAC supplementation on the colonic mucosal morphology of AA-treated piglets

From: Protective effects of N-acetylcysteine on acetic acid-induced colitis in a porcine model

Items

Control

AA

NAC

Score

6.3 ± 1.5a

12.5 ± 2.6b

8.3 ± 1.8a

Crypt Depth1, μm

190 ± 2.2

200 ± 3.5

231 ±3.8

Goblet cells/100 enterocytes

10.3 ± 2.2b

7.4 ±0.7a

9.8 ±1.6b

IEL2/100 enterocytes

1.6 ± 0.5a

2.7 ± 0.8b

1.8 ± 0.9a

Cell density3

1.3 ± 0.4

0.9 ± 0.3

1.0 ± 0.1

Lymphocytic density3

1.6 ± 0.2a

2.4 ± 0.7b

1.7 ± 0.3a

  1. Data are means ± SD, n = 6. Control = piglets fed the basal diet and received intrarectal administration of sterile saline; AA = piglets fed the basal diet and received intrarectal administration of acetic acid; NAC = piglets fed the basal diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg NAC and received intrarectal administration of acetic acid. a-b: Values within a row with different letters differ (P < 0.05). 1Crypt depth: The distance from the crypt mouth to the base. The same crypt columns were used to determine the number of IEL, goblet cells expressed per 100 enterocytes. 2IEL = Intraepithelial lymphocytes. 3 Intravillus lamina propria cell and lymphocytic density expressed as number of total cells or number of lymphocytes per 1,000 μm2.