The Nutrients Editorial Office team has recently been made aware that the figures in the title paper [1] are taken from the same micrographs as those of other papers by the same authors, but purporting to show different species. In particular, Figure 2D of [1] (rat) is identical to Figure 2D of [2] (mouse), Figure 4B of [1] (rat) is identical to Figure 4B of [3], and Figure 5 of [1] is identical to Figure 3B of [2]. Given this, we do not have confidence in the figures and thus the conclusions of the paper. In order to correct the publication record, the paper [1] will be marked as retracted.
Nutrients is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and strives to uphold the highest ethical standards; extensive manipulation of images is not acceptable and we are committed to taking appropriate action when such cases are reported. We apologize to readers of Nutrients and wish to thank the reader who first reported this case.
References
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