Figure 3
From: Immunohistochemical investigation of Foxp3 expression in the intestine in healthy and diseased dogs
Intestinal Foxp3 expression in dogs without gastrointestinal diseases. Without consideration of their age, numbers of lamina propria Foxp3-positive lymphocytes were significantly increased in the villus compared to the basal crypt area as well as the villus-crypt junction and the density of Foxp3-positive lymphocytes was significantly higher in the basal crypt area than in the villus-crypt junction (A-C). In the colon, Foxp3-positive cells were increased in the basal crypt area compared to the apical part (D). Regarding the villus, lamina propria Foxp3-positive cells were significantly decreased in the jejunum and the ileum compared to the duodenum in healthy dogs disregarding their age (E). Concerning age-related changes, numbers of villus Foxp3-positive lymphocytes were significantly increased in middle-aged dogs compared to juvenile as well as old animals in the duodenum and the jejunum (F-G). In contrast, age-related changes were absent in the ileum (H). vi = villus. cry-b = basal crypt area. jun = villus-crypt junction. cry-a = apical crypt area. duo = duodenum. jej = jejunum. ile = Ileum. 1 = juvenile. 2 = middle-aged. 3 = old. * = p < 0.05. *** = p < 0.001.