Lactobacillus acidophilus alleviates pouchitis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in rats

Figure 4 Gross and microscopic histological observations. A: Mucosal surface congestion and edema, toughness, visible multiple ulcers, and scattered bleeding were evident in the NI (a) and NS (b) groups, but mucosal congestion and edema had disappeared in the LA (c) group; B: Microscopic examination of the pouch revealed irregular and disordered mucosal villi, passivation of the villi, and extensive inflammatory cell infiltration in the central matrix of the villi in the NI (a) and NS (b) groups, but less severe lesions in the LA (c) group; C: There was no significant difference in histological scores between the NI (7.17 ± 0.98) and NS groups (8.00 ± 0.89) (t = 1.536, P > 0.05), but the histological score was significantly lower in the LA group (4.00 ± 0.89) than in the other two groups (F = 5.84, P < 0.05). NI: No Intervention group; NS: Normal Saline group; LA: Lactobacillus acidophilus group.