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. 2024 Jan 24;17(6):907–921. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2024.01.012

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Ablation of cholinergic neurons exacerbates DSS-induced colitis. (A) Experimental and control groups are shown. DT-mediated ablation of myenteric cholinergic neurons in the colon of ChAT-iDTR+ mice was confirmed by comparing immunostaining for anti-VAChT and pan-neuronal marker Hu (B) before and (C) after DT injection. Mice receiving DSS showed (D) weight loss (naïve and DSS, n = 7; ablated, n = 5), (E and F) splenomegaly (naïve and DSS, n = 7; ablated, n = 6), and (G and H) colonic shortening (naïve and DSS, n = 7; ablated, n = 5), as compared with naïve mice, with the greatest difference in those receiving DT injection. (I and J) Histologic score (naïve, n = 4; DSS, n = 4; ablated, n = 4) and (K) CD45+ cell counts (n = 3 per group) were increased significantly after ablation of cholinergic neurons in DSS-induced colitis. (L) Representative traces of mechanical response to electrical field stimulation (EFS) are shown. (L and M) EFS does not induce smooth muscle contraction in ChAT-ablated mice (naïve and DSS, n = 6; ablated, n = 5). Scale bars: 50 μm (B, C, I, and K); 10 mm (G). Data shown are means ± SEM. ∗P < .05, ∗∗P < .01, and ∗∗∗P < .001.