Figure 1.
R-Spo1 promotes proliferation of gastric epithelium in naïve mice. (A-E) B6D2F1-Lgr5-EGFP-creER mice were IV injected daily with R-Spo1 (200 μg/d) or PBS for 6 days. (A) Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E staining) of the fundic glands in the stomach. (B) Gland depth of fundic glands (n = 6 per group). (C) Immunofluorescent images of Ki-67 (red) with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) nuclear staining (blue). (D) Numbers of Ki-67+ cells per gland (n = 7 per group). (E) Immunofluorescent images of EGFP (green) with DAPI nuclear staining (blue). (F) Numbers of EGFP+ cells per gland (n = 3 per group). (H-I) Lgr5-EGFP-creER × R26tdTomato mice were IP injected with 40 mg/kg of tamoxifen for 3 days to label GSCs, followed by IV injection of R-Spo1 for 3 days. (G) Immunofluorescent images of red fluorescent protein (tdTomato/red fluorescent protein [RFP]; red) and EGFP (green). (H) Numbers of glands (per 1.5 mm) in which RFP was expressed from base to top (n = 3 per group). (A,C,E,G) Bars represent 100 μm. (B,D,F,H) Data are shown as mean ± standard error of the mean. ∗P < .05; ∗∗P < .01; ∗∗∗P < .001. IP, intraperitoneally.