Figure 1
Effect of microbial colonization on the intestinal physiology and morphology. (a) Total cecal weight was determined as a measure of bacterial colonization, and the inset shows a photograph of cecum at day 0 (left) and day 4 (right), respectively. (***P=0.001 compared with germfree). (b) Mean crypt depth measured from villi and crypts from the jejunum, ileum, and colon in germfree and conventionalized mice at different time points post conventionalization (n=4–6 mice/day). Results are presented as means ± SD. Significant differences between time points are indicated by distinctive characters above the measurement groups. (c) Immunohistochemical detection of Ki-67–positive cells using Mib-1 antibody in ileal tissues in (A) germfree, (B) day 4, and (C) day 30 post conventionalization. Arrows refer to the positive-stained cells (brown color) (n=4–6/day). (d) Representative high iron diamine (HID)-stained colon sections, showing the dynamics of mucin subtypes distribution in (A) germfree, (B) day 4, and (C) day 16 post conventionalization. Arrows refer to sialylated mucins stained blue and sulfated mucins stained brown/black (n=4–6/day).
