Preventative effects of a probiotic, Lactobacillus salivarius ssp. salivarius, in the TNBS model of rat colitis

Figure 1 Production of inflammatory cytokines by bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM). TNF-a, IL-12, and IL-10 production was analyzed by ELISA in the supernatants of BMDM stimulated or not with LPS (100 ng/mL) and incubated with 106 CFU/mL of L. salivarius ssp. salivarius (CECT5713) (black bars) or in absence of bacteria (gray bars). The results are the mean of three assays±SE of the ratio between the pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-a and IL-12) and IL-10.

Figure 2 Histological sections of colonic mucosa from colitic rats 1 wk after TNBS instillation stained with hematoxylin and eosin. A: Non-colitic group showing the normal histology of the rat colon (original magnification ×20); B: TNBS control group showing complete destruction of the mucosa, which has been substituted by inflammatory granulation tissue. There is evident edema and intense diffuse transmural inflammatory infiltrate (original magnification ×100); C: L. salivarius ssp. salivarius treated group showing amelioration of the inflammatory process and ‘restoration’ of the mucosal tissue with presence of mucin replenished goblet cells (original magnification ×100).

Figure 3 Effects of L. salivarius ssp. salivarius treatment (5×10⁸ CFU/rat·d) on colonic nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression in TNBS experimental colitis in rats.

Figure 4 Effects of L. salivarius ssp. salivarius (5×10⁸ CFU/rat·day) treatment on bacteria levels (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria) in TNBS experimental colitis in rats. ^bP<0.01 vs non-colitic group.