Exposure to inhaled diesel exhaust particles result in an increase in occludin expression in the small intestine of C57Bl/6 male mice. Representative images of occludin expression in the three regions of the small intestine of C57Bl/6 male mice on a high-fat diet exposed to saline (CON; A–C), diesel exhaust particles (DEP-35 µg PM; D–F), saline and probiotics (CON + PRO, 0.3 g/d of Ecologic® Barrier probiotics; G–I), or diesel exhaust particles and probiotics (DEP + PRO, 0.3 g/d of Ecologic® Barrier probiotics; J–L) twice a week for 4 w. Panels show merged images within the duodenum (A,D,G,J), jejunum (B,E,H,K), and ileum (C,F,I,L). Red fluorescence indicates occludin expression and blue fluorescence indicates nuclear staining (Hoechst). Graph (M) shows the histological analysis of occludin by region, (N) shows the global (cumulative expression of three portions) analysis of occludin expression in the small intestine, and (O) shows the global mean normalized gene expression of occludin mRNA transcript expression in the small intestine, as determined by RT-qPCR. 40× magnification, scale bar = 100 µm. Data are depicted as ± SEM with * p < 0.05 compared to CON, † p < 0.05 compared to DEP, ‡ p < 0.05 compared to CON + PRO, and ○ p < 0.07 compared to CON.