Diabetes exacerbates inflammatory bowel disease in mice with diet-induced obesity

Figure 3 Colonic mucin barrier and tight junction protein abundance in diabetes and dextran sodium sulfate colitis in diet-induced obese mice. A: Alcian blue (AB) staining highlighted the colonic mucin barrier in normoglycemic mice; B: AB staining highlights the colonic mucin barrier in hyperglycemic mice; C: AB staining in areas of the colon with intact epithelium was quantified for each treatment group that received vehicle (Veh)/streptozotocin (STZ) and/or Veh/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). D: Tight junction protein E-cadherin was highlighted by immunohistochemical staining in the colons of normoglycemic mice; E: Tight junction protein E-cadherin is highlighted by immunohistochemical staining in the colons of hyperglycemic mice; F: E-cadherin abundance in areas of the colon with intact epithelium was quantified for each experimental treatment group; G: Correlation of degree of hyperglycemia with AB staining; H: Correlation of degree of hyperglycemia with E-cadherin staining; I: Correlation of AB staining with clinical colitis disease severity in DSS-treated groups; J: Correlation of E-cadherin staining with clinical colitis disease severity in DSS-treated groups; K: Correlation of degree of hyperglycemia with colitis disease severity in DSS-treated groups. n = 7-8 per group, mean ± standard error of the mean. DSS: Dextran sodium sulfate; Veh: Vehicle; STZ: Streptozotocin; HFD: High-fat diet.