Fig. 11

Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) treatment does not restore antibiotic (Abx)-induced changes in motility, but improves intestinal barrier function. a Experimental design. Male mice treated with Abx were supplemented with a mixture of SCFA (67.5 mM of acetate, 25.9 mM of propionate, 40 mM of butyrate) in the drinking water after 14 days of Abx treatment (Abx + SCFA at d14). Control and Abx-only (Abx) water were pH- and sodium-matched to the SCFA mixture. Whole gut transit (WGT) test was performed on day 42 and day 77. Small intestinal transit test and intestinal permeability were assessed at 90 days. b–c Intestinal anatomical parameters; b cecal wet weight, c small intestinal length. d Small intestinal transit distance (as a % of total intestinal length) measured 15 min after gavage with dye. e Whole gut transit time tested on day 42 (1st WGT) and on day 77 (2nd WGT). f Intestinal permeability assessed by fluorescein-5-6-sulfonic acid (FSA) concentration in the serum 4 h after gavage with FSA. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. n = 4–10. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001; one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test