Fig. 1

AOM/DSS treatment induces CRC in C57BL/6 male mice successfully and increases the plasma CORT of model mice. The scheme shows one time administration of AOM followed by three cycles of DSS treament and separated by 14-day recovery periods. Colon was examined 28 days after the third cycle of DSS treatment (a). Representative longitudinal views of colorectum from control (NS/Water) mice and model (AOM/DSS) mice (b). Pathological examination confirmed the most neoplasms of model mice as adenocarcinoma (c). Plasma CORT of model mice (number = 8) and control mice (number = 4) were tested by radioimmunoassay (d). Data expressed as mean ± SD. **P < 0.01 by unpaired t-test analysis. AOM azoxymethane, DSS dextran sodium sulphate, CRC colorectal carcinoma, NS normal saline, CORT corticosterone