A high fiber diet or supplementation with Lactococcus lactis subspecies cremoris to pregnant mice confers protection against intestinal injury in adult offspring

Figures & data

Figure 1. Antenatal high fiber diet reduces injury from DSS colitis in adult murine offspring.

(a) Quantification of intestinal injury through DAI score in 6-week-old C57BL/6 mice subjected to chronic 2% DSS-induced colitis model. Experimental groups include offspring from mothers on a HFD antenatal diet (n = 10), and offspring from mothers on a control antenatal diet (n = 8). DAI score ranges from 0 to 6 and is proportional to the degree of intestinal injury. Student’s t-test. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. (b) Colon length of mice described in (a) measured at the time of sacrifice (9 weeks-old). (c) HAI score quantifies colonic injury by a validated scoring tool, the score ranges from 0 to 6 and is proportional to the degree of colonic injury. Student’s t-test. *p < 0.05). (d) Representative H&E images of proximal colonic tissue in mice in antenatal control group. (e) Representative H&E images of proximal colonic tissue in mice in antenatal HFD group. Scale bar is 50$\mathit{\mu }$m.

Figure 2. Supplementation of the antenatal diet with probiotics impacts the extent of DSS-induced colitis injury in adult offspring.

(a) Quantification of intestinal injury through DAI score on 6-week-old C57BL/6 mice subjected to chronic 2% DSS-induced colitis model. Experimental groups include offspring from mothers whose antenatal diet was supplemented daily with 1 × 10⁹ CFU of Lactococcus lactis subsp. Cremoris (LLC) (n = 5), Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) (n = 6), or with equal volume of HBSS (control) (n = 8). DAI score ranges from 0 to 6 and is proportional to the degree of intestinal injury. Student’s t-test. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01. (b) Colon length of mice described in (a) measured at the time of sacrifice (9 weeks-old). One-way ANOVA. ** p < 0.01. (c) HAI score quantifies colonic injury by a validated scoring tool, the score ranges from 0 to 6 and is proportional to the degree of colonic injury. One-way ANOVA. (d) Representative H&E images of proximal colonic tissue in mice described in (a). Scale bar is 50$\mathit{\mu }$m. (e) Quantification of intestinal injury through DAI score on 6-week-old C57BL/6 mice subjected to chronic 2% DSS-induced colitis model. Experimental groups include offspring from mothers on a HFD antenatal and supplemented daily with LLC (LLC HF) (n = 6), or on a control diet supplemented daily with LLC (n = 18) (LLC). Student’s t-test. (f) Colon length of mice described in (e) measured at the time of sacrifice (9 weeks-old). Student’s t-test. (g) HAI score quantifies colonic injury by a validated scoring tool, the score ranges from 0 to 6 and is proportional to the degree of colonic injury. Student’s t-test. (h) Representative H&E images of proximal colonic tissue in mice described in (f). Scale bar is 50$\mathit{\mu }$m.

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article, any further data can be requested from the corresponding author.