Fig. 7

FMT ameliorates BCCAO-induced hippocampal neuronal apoptosis and LPS-stimulated neuroinflammation. A Representative immunofluorescence images of hippocampal neurons in CA1, CA2, CA3, and DG zones. Scale bar, 50 μm. B Bar plots of the mean fluorescence intensity in the different groups (n = 6 S+FMT(B) and S+FMT(S), n = 8 B+FMT(B) and B+FMT(S)). C mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-10) in the hippocampus (n = 5/group). D–G Western blot analysis for protein levels of caspase 3, cleaved caspase 3, Bcl2, Bax, Bcl-XL, Erk, and pErk and their quantification (band intensity normalized to β-actin or COXIV) in the hippocampus (n = 6/group). H–K Representative immunofluorescence images showing Iba-1+ cells in the cortex (H) and hippocampus (J), and the quantification analysis (I, K) (n = 5/group). Scale bar, 50 μm. L mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-10) in the cortex (n = 5/group). M, N Protein levels of CD16 and NF-κB and their quantification (band intensity normalized to β-actin) in the cortex (n = 5/group). S+FMT(B)+LPS, sham rats treated with LPS after receiving BCCAO-rat-derived fecal microbiota transplantation. S+FMT(S)+LPS, sham rats treated with LPS after receiving sham-rat-derived fecal microbiota transplantation. The data represent the mean ± SEM. p < 0.05 was set as the threshold for significance. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 compared to the S+FMT(B) group. ^&p < 0.05, ^&& p < 0.01, ^&&& p < 0.001 compared to the S+FMT(S) group. ^# p < 0.05, ^##p < 0.01 compared to the B+FMT(B) group. ⁺p < 0.05, ⁺⁺p < 0.01 compared to the S+FMT(B)+LPS group