FIG 2.

SB improves diabetes-related parameters and attenuates stroke injury. (a) Experimental design for donor mice. After acclimatization for 1 week, WT and Db mice received NaCl or SB in the drinking water for 4 weeks. Diabetes-related parameters were measured at different time points, and then the mice were subjected to MCAO. (b) Changes in body weight, food intake, and water intake were measured at different time points. (c) Fasting blood glucose levels, T-CHO levels, and TG levels were also measured. (d and e) Serum levels of LPS, LBP (d), IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β (e) were measured after MCAO. (f) Images of brain sections and cerebral infarct volumes as percentages for all MCAO groups. (g) Correlations between fecal butyrate and LPS or infarct volume. (h) Expression of intestinal tight junction proteins in the four groups. n = 5 to 10 animals per group. Data are presented as mean values ± SD. Asterisks (*) show comparisons with the WT-Con group, and pound signs (#) show comparisons with the Db-Con group. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; #, P < 0.05; ##, P < 0.01; ###, P < 0.001.