Fig 5. Nef expression in rat hippocampus increases intestinal ion transport and downregulates the tight junction protein occludin.

(A) Ion transport was measured by mounting ileal tissue in Ussing chambers and recording changes in ion transport to different acetylcholine (ACh) concentrations applied to the serosal side. (B) Immunofluorescence of the tight junction protein occluding (in green) was assessed to determine intestinal barrier changes between the groups. (C) Analysis of the AFVE showed that ileal tissue from Nef-treated rats had significantly decreased occludin levels when compared to the GFP-treated rats. N = 7 to 9 rats per group. Scale bars indicate 25 μm. Student’s t-test was performed to determine differences between the Nef-treated group and the GFP-treated group (control). Data are expressed as means ± S.E.M.