FIG 7.
L. reuteri ameliorates E. coli-induced endometritis in mice. (A) A schematic diagram of L. reuteri treatment is shown. Mice were treated with L. reuteri (109 CFU/300 μL) once every 2 days for 3 weeks after eradicating the preexisting gut commensal microbiota by ABX. On day 21, mice were treated with E. coli (108 CFU/30 μL) by intrauterine injection. After 24 h, uterine tissues were collected for determinations. (B–C) Representative macroscopic (B) and H&E-stained (C) images of uteri from different treatment groups are shown. (D) Histological scores were evaluated based on the barrier damage and inflammatory cell infiltration (n = 5). (E-G) Uterine MPO activity and TNF-α (F) and IL-1β (G) levels were assessed in differently treated mice (n = 5). Data are expressed as the mean ± SD, and one-way ANOVA was performed for statistical analysis (D-G). *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; and ***, P < 0.001 indicate significant differences. ns, no significance.