Effects of dietary fibers on the tuft cell population in the mouse colon post radiation

Pelvic radiation therapy is often associated with gastrointestinal dysfunction. Intestinal tuft cell located within the mucosal epithelium have in the small intestine following full body radiation in mice been shown to be essential for epithelial regeneration. Dietary approaches during and after radiation therapy have also been suggested to aid epithelial health and function. Tuft cells are suggested to be important for translation of chemosensory signals in the lumen. This study investigated the effects of dietary fiber composition on tuft cell numbers in the colon at 1, 6 and 18 weeks post radiation.