Fig. 3

IPA administration improves GI tract toxicity after total abdominal irradiation. a, b Photographs (a) and length (b) of dissected colon from mice in the three groups, the colon tissues were obtained at day 21 after 12 Gy TAI. Mean ± SEM. Significant differences between each two cohorts are indicated: *P < 0.05 and ***P < 0.005; Student’s t test, n = 12 per group. c The morphology of the small intestine was shown by H&E (×100 magnification; scale bar: 100 μm) and PAS (×1000 magnification; scale bar: 50 μm) staining. The small intestine tissues were obtained at day 21 after 12 Gy TAI. The arrows point to the goblet cells. d, e The content of IL-6 (d) and TNFɑ (e) in the small intestine tissues were examined by ELISA. Mean ± SEM. Significant differences between each two cohorts are indicated: *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.005; Student’s t test, n = 6 for control group, n = 11 for TAI group, n = 12 for TAI + IPA group. f–h The expression levels of Glut1 (f), Pgk1 (g), and MDR1 (h) were examined in the small intestine tissues by qRT-PCR. The small intestine tissues were obtained at day 21 after 12 Gy TAI. Mean ± SEM. Significant differences between each two cohorts are indicated: *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01; Student’s t test, n = 12 per group. i The FITC-dextran in PB was assessed at day 21 after 12 Gy TAI. Mean ± SEM. Significant differences between each two cohorts are indicated: **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.005; Student’s t test, n = 12 per group. j The expression levels of Nrf2 was assessed in the small intestine tissue by qRT-PCR. The small intestine tissues were obtained at day 21 after 12 Gy TAI. Mean ± SEM. Significant differences between each two cohorts are indicated: *P < 0.05; Student’s t test, n = 12 per group. k The content of MDA in the small intestine tissues were examined. Mean ± SEM. Significant differences between each two cohorts are indicated: ***P < 0.005; Student’s t test, n = 6 for control group, n = 11 for TAI group, n = 12 for TAI + IPA group