P2X7 receptor blockade decreases inflammation, apoptosis, and enteric neuron loss during Clostridioides difficile toxin A-induced ileitis in mice

Figure 2 Clostridioides difficile toxin A induces alterations in enteric neuronal coding in the myenteric plexus in the ileum of mice. A: Quantification of the number of neuronal nitric oxide synthase+ (nNOS+), calretinin+ (Calr+)_, and choline acetyltransferase+ (ChaT+) neurons/cm² [mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM)] in the ileum myenteric plexus in control and TcdA-challenged mice; B: Representative photomicrographs of the P2X7 receptor (green), nNOS (left panels, red), Calr (center panels, red), and ChaT (right panel, red) immunostaining and DAPI (blue) nuclear staining in control and TcdA-challenged mice. White arrows indicate positive immunostaining. Scale bars, 50 μm; C-E: Percentage of NOS⁺P2X7⁺ neurons (C), Calr⁺P2RX7⁺ neurons (D), and ChaT⁺P2RX7⁺ neurons (E) (mean ± SEM) in the ileum myenteric plexus of control and TcdA-challenged mice (n = 4); A, C, D and E: Unpaired two-tailed Student's t test (^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.03; ^cP < 0.002 ). NOS: Nitric oxide synthase; Calr: Calretinin; ChaT: Choline acetyltransferase.