Muscularis and submucosa plus mucosa layers length in small intestine.

<p>(A) Muscularis and (B) submucosa plus mucosa layers at 1, 3 and 8 months old. There were no differences between groups. <i>iuGC</i>, <i>in utero</i> glucocorticoid exposed animals. (A) n = 6, 4, 6 CTR and n = 5, 10, 7 <i>iuGC</i>. (B) n = 6, 7, 6 CTR and n = 5, 9, 7 <i>iuGC</i>.</p

<i>In utero</i> glucocorticoid exposure decreases the length of small intestine at 24 hours, 1 and 3 months old.

<p>(A) The length of small intestine is shorter in <i>iuGC</i> rats at 1 and 3 months old, n = 6, 17, 6 CTR and n = 9, 10, 7 <i>iuGC</i>. (B) Stomach length in control and <i>iuGC</i> animals, n = 10, 9, 6 CTR and n = 10, 11, 7 <i>iuGC</i>. (C) The length of colon in control and <i>iuGC</i> animals, n = 10, 9, 6 CTR and n = 10, 11, 7 <i>iuGC</i>. (D) Small Intestine is shorter in <i>iuGC</i> animals at 24 hours of life, n = 4 CTR and n = 13 <i>iuGC</i>. <i>iuGC</i>, <i>in utero</i> glucocorticoid exposed animals. *<i>P</i> <0.05, *** <i>P</i> <0.001.</p

Prenatal treatment decreases proliferation and increases apoptosis in small intestine.

<p>(A) Proliferation was assessed by BrdU staining. (B) Proliferation rate is decreased within the crypts in <i>iuGC</i> rats, n = 3, 4, 5 CTR and n = 3, 6, 3 <i>iuGC</i>. (C) Apoptosis rate was assessed by TUNEL assay. (D) Apoptosis is increased in <i>iuGC</i> rats (mostly within the submucosa and mucosa layers), n = 6, 3, 5 CTR and n = 5, 3, 6 <i>iuGC</i>. <i>iuGC</i>, <i>in utero</i> glucocorticoid exposed animals.** <i>P</i> <0.01, *** <i>P</i> <0.001. Scale bars: 500 μm. </p

<i>iuGC</i> animals at 3 and 8 months old have a decreased GI transit.

<p><b>No differences in intestinal permeability.</b> (A) Ratio of the distance travelled by red dye and total small intestine length. Ratio is lower at 3 and 8 months old. There was no differences among groups at 1 month old (<i>P</i> = 0.07), n = 7, 17, 6 CTR and n = 6, 19, 7 <i>iuGC</i>. (B) Intestinal permeability in Control and <i>iuGC</i> animals at 1, 3 and 8 months old. There were no differences between groups, n = 3, 9, 5 CTR and n = 4, 10, 7 <i>iuGC</i>. <i>iuGC</i>, <i>in utero</i> glucocorticoid exposed animals. ** <i>P</i> <0.01, *** <i>P</i> <0.001.</p