Fig. 5

Gut microbiota alteration and thinning mucus, but not cognition decline, were observed after a fiber deficiency diet for 7 days. A Principal coordinates analysis plot of bray distances. B–E The α-diversity of the cecal microbiome is depicted according to Chao1 index (B), Ace index (C), Sob index (D), and Shannon index (E). F, G Composition of abundant bacterial phyla. H Alcian blue-stained colonic sections were showing the mucus layer (arrows). Opposing black arrows with shafts delineate the mucus layer that was measured. Scale bar: 50 μm. I The quantification of the colonic mucus layer was statistically analyzed (2 sections per animal, n = 5). J Immunofluorescence images of colonic sections stained with MUC2 (green) and DAPI (blue). Opposing white arrows with shafts delineate the mucus layer. Scale bar: 50 μm. The object location (K, L) and nest building tests (M, N) were performed to evaluate the cognition of the mice (n = 15). K Percentage of time spent with the object in the novel place to total object exploration time. L The total object exploration time. M The nest score. N Untore nestler weight (amount of untore nesting material). Values are mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05 fiber deficiency for short-term (FD-ST) vs. control (Con) group. Abbreviations: p, phylum