Figure 2.

Bt normalizes expression of neuronal subtype post-GF perturbations.

Expression of the inhibitory neurotransmitter NOS (red) is significantly decreased in MYP in GF conditions when compared to SPF, while Bt significantly induces proliferation of NOS-IR compared to GF (a and b). Excitatory cholinergic marker ChAT is increased in MYP GF conditions compared to SPF, while Bt reduces the innervation to SPF levels (c and d). Expression of substance P is unchanged in both MYP and mucosa in GF mice compared to SPF; however, Bt significantly increases substance P-IR in both colonic regions compared to GF (e and f). There are no changes in expression pattern for CGRP in the mucosa and MYP except for a significant reduction in the MYP by Bt compared to SPF (g and h). N = 3–5. Yellow arrows indicate positive mucosal-IR, white arrows indicate positive MYP-IR. Error bars show SEM, and significance is p < .05 as denoted by *. Scale bar = 50 μm.