Intestinal Goblet Cell Hyperplasia Is Delayed in SM-MHC^CreIL-4Rα^−/lox Mice following Infection with N. brasiliensis

Abstract

<p>Mucus-producing goblet cells were visualized using periodic−acid Schiff reagent staining at days 4, 7, and 10 PI. The number of hyperplasic goblet cells per five villi was calculated. Values indicate mean ± SD, with *, x, +, and ++ indicating significant differences between groups (<i>p</i> < 0.05). *Significant decrease in hyperplasic goblet cells in IL-4Rα^−/lox mice at day 10 PI compared to IL-4Rα^−/lox mice at day 7 PI. x, Significantly less hyperplasic goblet cells in IL-4Rα^−/− mice than in IL-4Rα^−/lox mice at day 7 PI. +, SM-MHC^CreIL-4Rα^−/lox mice had significantly more hyperplasic goblet cells at day 10 PI than did SM-MHC^CreIL-4Rα^−/lox mice at day 7 PI. ++, SM-MHC^CreIL-4Rα^−/lox mice had significantly more hyperplasic goblet cells than did IL-4Rα^−/lox mice at day 10 PI. Data are representative of four separate experiments.</p