Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Survivin Expression Pattern in the Intestine of Normoxic and Ischemic Rats  
 
Version: 0 Date: 14 Oct 2016  
 
Reviewer: Adrian Cummins  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Why were only male Wistar rats used? Strictly, the conclusions only really pertain to male rats. 
Female rats have higher immunological activity which is probably not important in this context. 
but there could always be a surprise. Although, not often stated, gender specific animals are used 
to select for low (male, organ transplant retention) or high baseline (female eg autoimmune 
disease) immunological activity and that is why does, (ie female rabbits) a re used to generate 
polyclonal antibodies.  
It might have been useful to assess for apoptosis (TUNEL or active caspase 3) as well as Ki67. 
The main cells undergoing apoptosis physiologically in crypts are not proliferating but the 
slower cycling Lgr5+ ste m cells.  This may well be different in the transit amplifying 
compartment under conditions of ischaemia. Is there anything known anything about the effect 
of mesenteric ischaemia on intestinal stem cells?  
I would have liked a brief overview in the Conclu sions of anti -apoptotic (eg Bcl -2) and pro -
apoptotic proteins (eg Bax) in crypts and how survivin fits in this context ie, Bcl -2 has higher 
expression in small than large intestine but survivin has equal expression. And survivin has 
expression mainly in th e transit amplifying compartment. Is that correct -was there expression in 
the base of crypts?  
Are the meth ods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the c onclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscr ipt: 
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may  in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either n ow or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating t o the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing int erests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare I have no competition interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manus cript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Survivin Expression Pattern in the Intestine of Normoxic and Ischemic Rats  
 
Version: 0 Date: 14 Oct 2016  
 
Reviewer: Adrian Cummins  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Why were only male Wistar rats used? Strictly, the conclusions only really pertain to male rats. 
Female rats have higher immunological activity which is probably not important in this context. 
but there could always be a surprise. Although, not often stated, gender specific animals are used 
to select for low (male, organ transplant retention) or high baseline (female eg autoimmune 
disease) immunological activity and that is why does, (ie female rabbits) a re used to generate 
polyclonal antibodies.  
It might have been useful to assess for apoptosis (TUNEL or active caspase 3) as well as Ki67. 
The main cells undergoing apoptosis physiologically in crypts are not proliferating but the 
slower cycling Lgr5+ ste m cells.  This may well be different in the transit amplifying 
compartment under conditions of ischaemia. Is there anything known anything about the effect 
of mesenteric ischaemia on intestinal stem cells?  
I would have liked a brief overview in the Conclu sions of anti -apoptotic (eg Bcl -2) and pro -
apoptotic proteins (eg Bax) in crypts and how survivin fits in this context ie, Bcl -2 has higher 
expression in small than large intestine but survivin has equal expression. And survivin has 
expression mainly in th e transit amplifying compartment. Is that correct -was there expression in 
the base of crypts?  
Are the meth ods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the c onclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscr ipt: 
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may  in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either n ow or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating t o the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing int erests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare I have no competition interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manus cript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Survivin Expression Pattern in the Intestine of Normoxic and Ischemic Rats  
 
Version: 0 Date: 14 Oct 2016  
 
Reviewer: Adrian Cummins  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
Why were only male Wistar rats used? Strictly, the conclusions only really pertain to male rats. 
Female rats have higher immunological activity which is probably not important in this context. 
but there could always be a surprise. Although, not often stated, gender specific animals are used 
to select for low (male, organ transplant retention) or high baseline (female eg autoimmune 
disease) immunological activity and that is why does, (ie female rabbits) a re used to generate 
polyclonal antibodies.  
It might have been useful to assess for apoptosis (TUNEL or active caspase 3) as well as Ki67. 
The main cells undergoing apoptosis physiologically in crypts are not proliferating but the 
slower cycling Lgr5+ ste m cells.  This may well be different in the transit amplifying 
compartment under conditions of ischaemia. Is there anything known anything about the effect 
of mesenteric ischaemia on intestinal stem cells?  
I would have liked a brief overview in the Conclu sions of anti -apoptotic (eg Bcl -2) and pro -
apoptotic proteins (eg Bax) in crypts and how survivin fits in this context ie, Bcl -2 has higher 
expression in small than large intestine but survivin has equal expression. And survivin has 
expression mainly in th e transit amplifying compartment. Is that correct -was there expression in 
the base of crypts?  
Are the meth ods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the c onclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscr ipt: 
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may  in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either n ow or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating t o the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing int erests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare I have no competition interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manus cript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
assistant