Fig. 7
From: Zearalenone disturbs the reproductive-immune axis in pigs: the role of gut microbial metabolites
Modified microbial metabolites reduce ZEN-induced toxicity on reproductive and immune systems. a Uterine size (uterine length, uterine width, and uterine horn’s width) of phase-3 pigs among the control (Ctrl), zearalenone (ZEN), ZEN supplemented with recombinant Bs-Z6 strain (Bs-Z6) groups (n=4). b Representative H&E staining of immune organs (e.g., thymus) and reproductive organs (e.g., uterus) from each group under ×40 magnification. The scale bar represents 100 μm. c Representative TEM images of thymus and uterus (The arrows show swelling nucleus). The scale bar represents 2 μm. d The mRNA expression of oxidative stress markers in the thymus and uterus (n=8). e, g Transcriptomic analysis reveals altered gene expression patterns in the thymus (e) and uterus (g). f, h The top 15 enriched Gene Ontology (GO) terms from the biological process in the thymus (f) and uterus (h). i Pathways related to immune diseases and system in top30 KEGG pathways of the thymus and uterus. j Statistical analysis of top30 KEGG pathways enriched by differentially expressed genes (DEGs). k RT-qPCR results of pro-inflammatory cytokines detected in the thymus and uterus. Bar values are means ± SEM. *P < 0.05