Intestinal homeostasis is restored in mice following a period of intestinal growth induced by orally administered Emu Oil

Previously, we reported that orally administered Emu Oil (EO) increases mucosal thickness in the small intestine and colon in rodent models of chemotherapy-induced mucositis and colitis. However, it remains unclear whether mucosal thickening (crypt and villus lengthening) represents a process of normal or aberrant growth. We sought to determine if villus height (VH) and crypt depth (CD) measurements returned to normal in EO-treated rats following withdrawal of EO therapy. Dark agouti rats (n = 8/group) were gavaged daily for 10 days with water, olive oil (OO), or EO (0.5 mL or 1 mL). Groups of rats were euthanized on days 10 and 17. Intestinal weights, lengths, VH, and CD were quantified. P