VIP regulates colonic goblet cell numbers and function at baseline.

<p>Exogenous VIP was administered to VIPKO mice (VIPKO-VIP) daily for 10 days. Selective labeling of neutral mucins with PAS and quantification of PAS+ve cells as a percentage of total IEC/crypt (A). Immunostaining and quantitative analysis of colonic Muc2+ve cells (B) and Tff3 +ve cells (C). Relative expression of colonic Muc2 and Tff3 (D), and Cdx1 and Cdx2 (E); n = 4–6 animals/group, results are represented as means ± SEM, *P<0.05, **P< 0.01, ***P<0.001. Scale bar = 50 μm. Arrows highlight cells that are positive in PAS staining (A), Muc2 staining (B) and Tff3 staining (C).