Figure 1.

Propionate induces intestinal damage in the context of high-fat diet

(A) Serum endotoxin in LFD-, LFSP0.5-, HFD-, and HFSP0.5-fed zebrafish at the end of the 2-week feeding trial (n = 4).

(B and C) The relative mRNA expression of (B) claudin-15 and (C) occludin in the intestine of LFD-, LFSP0.5-, HFD-, and HFSP0.5-fed zebrafish at the end of 2-week feeding trial (n = 5–6).

(D) Representative histopathologic image of H&E-stained intestinal sections. The scale bar, 50 μm.

(E) Histological score measuring the severity of the intestinal damage of zebrafish (n = 5).

(F–H) (F) Caspase-9, (G) caspase-6, and (H) caspase-3 activities in the intestine of 1-month-old zebrafish fed the LFD, HFD, or HFSP0.5 for 2 weeks (n = 4–6).

Values are means ± SEM. Means without a common letter are significantly different (p < 0.05). Duncan's test. LFD, low-fat diet; LFSP0.5, 0.5% propionate-supplemented LFD; HFD, high-fat diet; HFSP0.5, 0.5% propionate-supplemented HFD.

See also Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 8and S2.