Morphology of goblet cells from rat tissue treated with DSS for different time point.

<p>Data are presented as % of goblet cells ± SEM. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.0001 compared to control group. Goblet cell morphology was quantified from randomly selected crypts of PAS stained sections. A minimum number of 100 (100–110) goblet cells were counted under 40 X magnification from each section. Goblet cell morphology was designated as adapted as previously described <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0025058#pone.0025058-Chadee1" target="_blank">[28]</a>. Filled goblet cells: goblet cells with intact mucus granules; Releasing mucus: cells releasing mucus with PAS-stained mucus emerging as a thick stream; Empty goblet cells with PAS stained mucus absent from cells exhibiting a deep concave cavitation of the apical surface. ND: Not determined as the epithelial layer and crypts on day 9 DSS treatment was destroyed or too damaged in the ulcerated site.