Expression levels of MEKK1 protein in the intestinal tissues of mice in the various groups.

<p>On the 4th day of treatment with milk-derived CGMP, pathologically altered intestinal sections were removed and weighed. Total protein was extracted from these samples, and the protein concentration was assayed using the BCA method. The expression levels of MEKK1 in the intestinal mucosae of UC mice in the various groups were detected by Western blotting, and the results are shown in Fig 5A. The gray integration values for the corresponding protein bands were acquired with Quantity One analysis software. GAPDH was used as the internal reference for quantitative normalization of the target protein MEKK1. The relative gray integration values for MEKK1 levels in various groups of samples are shown in Fig 5B. N: normal control group; M: OXZ-model group; S: SASP-treated group; C1: CGMP group 1 (50 mg/kg bw•d); and C2: CGMP group 2 (200 mg/kg bw•d).* Indicates a significant difference compared with the normal control group (P < 0.05); ** indicates an extremely significant difference compared with the normal control group (P < 0.01); + indicates a significant difference compared with the model control group (P < 0.05); and ++ indicates an extremely significant difference compared with the model control group (P < 0.01).</p

The effects of CGMP on mouse intestinal morphological and histological injury evaluation scores.

<p>Based on images of H&E-stained sections at 40x and 400x magnification, mouse intestinal morphological and histological injury were evaluated based on the status of crypt loss and the severity of erosion. The criteria were divided into 5 grades. Within the figure, * indicates a significant difference compared with the normal control group (P < 0.05); ** indicates an extremely significant difference compared with the normal control group (P < 0.01); + indicates a significant difference compared with the OXZ-model group (P < 0.05); and ++ indicates an extremely significant difference compared with the OXZ-model group (P < 0.01).</p

Images of intestinal histopathological sections from mice in the various groups: H&E staining with magnification at 40x and 400x.

<p>One-centimeter sections of normal and obviously pathologically altered intestine were removed from mice in each group, and paraffin sections were prepared using routine procedures, including paraffin embedding, sectioning, H&E staining and mounting with neutral balsam. Histopathological changes were observed with an inverted microscope. A: normal control group; B:OXZ-induced UC model group; C1: CGMP group 1 (50 mg/kg bw•d); C2: CGMP group 2 (200 mg/kg bw•d); and D: SASP-treated group. The upper image contains “A, B, C1,C2 and D” were based on images of H&E-stained sections at 40x magnification and The lower image contains bold “A, B, C1,C2 and D” were based on images of H&E-stained sections at 400x magnification.</p

Effects of CGMP on mouse intestinal morphological injury index scoring.

<p>N: normal control group; M: OXZ-model group; S: SASP-treated group; C1: CGMP group 1 (50 mg/kg bw•d) and C2: CGMP group 2 (200 mg/kg bw•d). Each mouse in the five groups was anatomized: its abdominal cavity was opened, its intestines were separated and the stool was removed. Changes in intestinal morphology were observed, and pathologically altered sites were scored. The scoring criteria were divided into six grades according to the severity of injury in the intestinal mucosa. Grades above the 5th grade indicate two or more sites with serious ulceration and/or inflammation or one site where ulceration/inflammation was observed. When injured sections longer than 1 cm in the intestine on the vertical axis were observed, 1 scoring point was added; the highest scoring point was 10. Within the figure,* indicates a significant difference compared with the normal control group (P < 0.05); ** indicates an extremely significant difference compared with the normal control group (P < 0.01); + indicates a significant difference compared with the model control group (P < 0.05); and ++ indicates an extremely significant difference compared with the model control group (P < 0.01).</p

Expression levels of Smad-3 and Smad-7 in the intestinal tissues of mice in the various groups.

<p>The expression levels of Smad-3 and Smad-7 in the intestinal mucosae of UC mice in the various groups were detected by Western blotting, and the results are shown in Fig 6A and 6B. The gray integration values for Smad-3 and Smad-7 protein bands were acquired with Quantity One analysis software. β-actin was used as the internal reference for quantitative normalization of the target proteins, Smad-3 and Smad-7, and relative gray integration values for Smad 3 and Smad 7 levels in various sample groups were obtained and showed in Fig 6C and 6D. N: normal control group; M: OXZ-model group; S: SASP-treated group; C1: CGMP group 1 (50 mg/kg bw•d); and C2: CGMP group 2 (200 mg/kg bw•d). * Indicates a significant difference compared with the normal control group (P < 0.05); ** indicates an extremely significant difference compared with the normal control group (P < 0.01); + indicates a significant difference compared with the model control group (P < 0.05); and ** indicates an extremely significant difference compared with the model control group (P < 0.01).</p

Effects of milk-derived CGMP treatment on the expression levels of CD4, CD8, MAdCAM-1 and sIgA in the mouse intestinal mucosa.

<p>After treatment with milk-derived CGMP at the indicated doses, the intestinal tissues of the mice in the various groups were removed and the expression levels of immunological barrier factors were detected via immunohistochemical staining methods. Fig 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D show the immunohistochemical staining results for CD4, CD8, MAdCAM-1 and sIgA, respectively. Within the figure, * indicates a significant difference compared with the normal control group (P<0.05); ** indicates an extremely significant difference compared with the normal control group (P < 0.01); + indicates a significant difference compared with the model control group (P < 0.05); and ++ indicates an extremely significant difference compared with the model control group (P < 0.01).</p

Effects of CGMP on changes in the body weights of UC mice (%).

<p>Effects of CGMP on changes in the body weights of UC mice (%).</p