Figure 1.
pH value in ruminal fluid after 2 (A) and 6 weeks (B) feeding regime.
Data was analyzed for differences due to diet, time, and their interactions by ANOVA using the General Linear Models of SPSS 11.0 for Windows (StatSoft Inc, Tulsa, OK, USA). Data was considered statistically significant when P<0.05, n = 4.
Figure 2.
LPS concentrations in ruminal fluid (A) and plasma (B).
The results were expressed as mean ± SEM. Data were analyzed for differences due to diet, time, and their interactions by ANOVA using the General Linear Models of SPSS 11.0 for Windows (StatSoft Inc, Tulsa, OK, USA). Data was considered statistically significant when P<0.05, n = 4. * P<0.05 between two groups.
Figure 3.
Comparisons of the hindgut (colon and cecum) histology between HC and LC goats.
Hindgut (n = 4) from each group were processed for histological evaluation: colon section of the (A) LC group; (B) HC group and cecum section of the (C) LC group; (D) HC group. The representative histological sections of the hindgut were stained by H&E at 400× magnification. Black, blue and red arrow indicates the loss of epithelial integrity, inflammatory cell infiltrate and goblet cell depletion of the hindgut epithelium, respectively. E–J: Histological damage score in colon (E–G) and cecum (H–J) mucosa. Asterisks denote a significant difference compared with control.
Figure 4.
Comparisons of morphology of the hindgut mucosa (colon and cecum) between HC and LC goats.
Hindgut (n = 4) from each group were processed for morphological evaluation: colon section of the (A, C) LC group; (B, D) HC group and cecum section of the (E, G) LC group; (F, H) HC group (transmission electron microscopy, ×10000). Arrow indicates the location of the TJs (Scale bar = 500 nm).
Figure 5.
Gene expression in colon (A) and cecum mucosa (B).
Beta-actin was used as the reference gene for gene expression. The data were analyzed by Independent-Samples T test using the Compare Means of SPASS 11.0 for Windows (StaSoft Inc, Tulsa, OK, USA). Values are mean ± SEM. #p<0.1, *p<0.05 vs. LC.
Figure 6.
Caspase-3 (A) and caspase-8 (B) enzyme activity in the hindgut mucosa.
The results were expressed as mean± SEM. The data were analyzed by Independent-Samples T test using the Compare Means of SPASS 11.0 for Windows (StaSoft Inc, Tulsa, OK, USA). *p<0.05 vs. LC.
Figure 7.
Protein expression of NF-κB p65 in colon and cecum mucosa.
Results of NF-κB p65 protein levels expressed as arbitrary units relative to β-actin protein. Values are mean ± SEM. The data were analyzed by Independent-Samples T test using the Compare Means of SPASS 11.0 for Windows (StaSoft Inc, Tulsa, OK, USA). #p<0.1, *p<0.05 vs. LC.
Table 1.
PCR primer sequences of the target genes.