Figure 6

Effects of ATL 370 and alanyl-glutamine on C. difficile toxin A-induced apoptosis. Toxin A (10 μg, B) caused significant apoptosis in the rabbit ileal tissues compared with PBS (A). Treatment with ATL 370 (1.5 ng/rabbit IV, D) or alanyl-glutamine (AQ;100 mM in loops, C) caused some reduction of apoptotic cells but only significant difference was noted with treatment with AQ. A marked decrease in apoptotic cells was noted in tissues treated with the combination of ATL and alanyl-glutamine (E). a- P < 0.0001 (one-way ANOVA), and b (PBS vs. Toxin A)- P < 0.001, c (Toxin A vs ATL/AQ10)- P < 0.01, d (Toxin A vs ATL/AQ100)- P < 0.001 (Bonferroni's). Apoptotic cells were counted in 12 high power fields (3 hpfs/quadrant) per slide from 3 to 4 ileal specimens per group.