Fig. 3

Promotion of offspring intestinal development begins in the embryonic period. a Villus height (left) and crypt depth (right) in the embryonic duodenum, jejunum, and ileum at E15, E17, E19, E20, and E21. In total, 71 ≤ n ≤ 228 villi and crypts were obtained from 6 embryos in each group. Data are shown as the means ± SEMs. Student’s t-test was conducted. ns P ≥ 0.05, *P < 0.05, and **P < 0.01. b Representative morphological images of H&E-stained, formalin-fixed, and paraffin-embedded 5-μm sections of embryonic intestines at E15, E17, E19, E20, and E21. Bar = 50 μm