Fig. 9

Long-term SCFA supplementation ameliorates compromised gut motility and barrier functions in BCCAO rats. A–C Intestinal motility test (n = 5/group): A Representative images and B quantitative analysis showing the distribution of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran in gastrointestinal segments. C Concentration of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran in portal venous blood. D AB-PAS-stained mature goblet cells from colon sections, and E calculation of mature goblet cells per 15 upper crypts/rat (n = 6/group). Scale bar, 20 μm. F-H mRNA levels of mucins (Muc2, Muc4), tight junction proteins (occludin, claudin-5, and ZO-1), and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-10) in colon cells (n = 5/group). 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+NaCl group. ^&p < 0.05 compared to the S+SCFA group. ^#p < 0.05 compared to the B+NaCl group