For analysis of the data, statistical software (PASW statistics,
version 17.0; IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY, USA)
was used. Data for receptor mRNA expression and number
of goblet cells were normally distributed (Kolmogorov–
Smirnov test), and groups were compared by t-test. Data
for scored histomorphological parameters were compared
by nonparametric Mann–Whitney U-test between groups
and by Friedman test and Wilcoxon test between different
localizations in the same animals. A P value