Fig. 5

 L-Fucose promoted ENS regeneration through inhibiting SMAD2 signaling pathway, but not PI3K/AKT or ERK1/2 signaling pathway. A Western blot analysis of TGF-β1 signaling pathway proteins, including SMAD2, p-SMAD2, ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, TGF-β1, TGF-βR1, PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT and p-AKT in the colon tissues. B Densitometric analysis of TGF-β1 signaling pathway proteins in the colon tissues in each group (n = 3 to 4). C Western blot analysis of SMAD2 and ERK1/2 signaling pathways in the colon tissues. D Densitometric analysis of SMAD2 and ERK1/2 signaling pathways in the colon tissues in each group (n = 3 to 4). E Western blot analysis of SMAD2 and ERK1/2 signaling pathways in primary ENPCs cultures. F Densitometric analysis of SMAD2 and ERK1/2 signaling pathways in primary ENPCs cultures in each group (n = 3). Con: the control mice or primary ENPCs cultures; DM: diabetic mice; DM + Fuc: diabetic mice administrated with L-Fucose; Glu: ENPCs treated with 30 mM glucose; Fuc: ENPCs treated with 30 mM glucose and 30 mg/ml L-Fucose. ENPCs, enteric neural precursor cells. Results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ns, p > 0.05