Restraint stress induces and exacerbates intestinal inflammation in interleukin-10 deficient mice

Figure 1 Histologic evaluations of (A) proximal and (B) distal colons in both wild-type and interleukin-10^-/- mice. Wild-type (stress positive, n = 4; stress negative, n = 4) and interleukin (IL)-10^-/- mice (stress positive, n = 4; stress negative, n = 10) were physically restrained in a well-ventilated, 50cc conical polypropylene tube for 2 h per day for 3 consecutive days, as described in Materials and Methods. The total histologic score was derived from the severity of total inflammation and crypt damage (mean ± SD). Mild colitis was observed in some of IL-10^-/- mice without restraint stress. In contrast, epithelial hyperplasia, crypt abscess, ulceration, and transmural inflammation were observed in IL-10^-/- mice exposed to restraint stress. Results are representative of at least three separately examined sites (Magnification, x 40). Stress (+), restraint stress for 2 h; IL-10^-/-: IL-10 knockout mice; ^aP < 0.05 vs stress negative IL-10^-/- mice.