Fig. 6.

Effect of oral administration of B. bifidum on expression and localization of claudin-3. A: representative 22-kDa claudin-3 bands from Western blot analyses are shown for DF, NEC, and B. bifidum groups. B: representative slides from DF, NEC, and B. bifidum groups were evaluated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (n = 6 animals/experimental group). In the NEC group, claudin-3 signal was dispersed throughout the cytoplasm (e; arrowhead). In the B. bifidum group, claudin-3 signal was associated with enterocyte membrane (f; arrows). No signal was observed in negative control sections (not shown). Magnification: ×400 (a, b, c), ×800 (d, e, f).