Figure 2.

Superior sensitivity of C5BL/6 just weaned mice to C. jejuni infection. (A–C) C57BL/6 mice at 12, 21, and 56 days of age were orally infected with 10⁸ CFU of C. jejuni. (A) Bacteria loads (CFU) and (B) lipocalin 2 (LCN2) in the stools of infected animals were determined at 6 days postinfection. (C) Representative H&E sections of the cecum from infected mice and statistical analysis of histopathological scores at 6 days postinfection. White arrows: submucosal inflammation; white asterisk: crypt hyperplasia with decreased number of goblet cells; black asterisk: epithelial desquamation; black arrows: mucosal inflammation. Scale bar: 200 μm. (D) Quantification of fecal immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations in C57BL/6 mice at 12, 21, and 56 days of age. Dots represent individual mice and results are shown as ±SEM. (A–D) Mann–Whitney test was used. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. One representative experiment out of at least two is shown.