Fig. 5

Fecal microbiota from NMS donors enhances defecation frequency and intracolonic bacterial SLCFAs production in pseudo germ-free (GF) rats (n = 6/group). a Accumulation of fecal pellets within 60 min in colonized GF rats 1 week (day 21), 2 weeks (day 28), and 3 weeks (day 35) after microbial transplant. b Relative abundances of fecal SLCFA-producing genera in donors and colonized GF rats on days 10, 21, and 35. c The relative levels of genes required for SLCFA synthesis in colonic contents of colonized GF rats. d The amounts of individual SLCFAs per gram of colonic contents. Bar charts are plotted using mean ± SEM value, and statistical significance between both colonized groups is defined as *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.005