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Figure 1Experimental protocol for the induction of moderate colitis. Phases 1 and 2 correspond to mice acclimatization and to colitis induction (DSS addition in drinking water from J0), respectively. « I.A. » means « intragastric administration ». Groups of BALB/c mice were used to evaluate the effects of different treatments. Groups used as controls were: i) treated with PBS and either DSS 0% (no inflammation control) or DSS 1% (inflammation control) or ii) treated with Lb. casei MnKat – with DSS 1% (control used to dissociate the effects due to the LAB and those due to MnKat). Group E represents a severe colitis control (5% DSS).
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Figure 2Effects of Lb. casei BL23 on the inflammation. A. Total macroscopic score. Total macroscopic score was the sum of caecal and colonic scores. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 10/treatment. (*) P (#) versus inflamed control group (PBS DSS). B. Histological score. This parameter is expressed as percentage of intact mucosa and presented using box-and-whisker plots, n = 10/treatment. (*) P (#) versus inflamed control group (PBS DSS).
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Figure 3Catalase activity in digestive contents of DSS-induced colitis in mice. Digestive contents homogenates were prepared from MnKat+ treated mice and from control groups (PBS 0% DSS, PBS 1% DSS and MnKat- 1% DSS). Total proteins were assayed using Bradford method. Total catalase activity was assessed using colorimetric method and expressed as mU/mg of total protein using box-and-whisker plots, n = 10/treatment. (*) P
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Figure 4Inflammation scores determination. A. Stool and macroscopic scores. Stool scores were determined during the phase of colitis induction, taking into account stool consistency and bleeding. The three macroscopic parameters (mucosal thickening, ulcerative sites and bleeding inside digestive contents) were added together to obtain macroscopic scores for caecum, proximal and distal colon. Separate scores were added up to obtain a total macroscopic score for each mouse. (*: presence of blood using HémocultII® detection test). B. Histological score. Swiss rolls were used to calculate a percentage of intact mucosa for each digestive segment. Three grades were defined depending on the mucosal state. The percentage of mucosal length in grade 0, 1 or 2 was calculated by microscopic observation of hematoxylin/eosin-stained sections (5 μm) and using LuciaG® software to measure the length of each section. Results were expressed as percentage of intact mucosa.
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