Correlation between depressive-like behavior and gut microbiota in mice with hypothyroidism

Figure 2 Inflammation is present in both peripheral and central regions of hypothyroid mice. A-D: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis reveals elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines [interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-10] in both the colon and hippocampus of hypothyroid group (HO) mice; E-H: Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay results indicate higher concentrations of these cytokines in the serum, colon, and hippocampus of HO mice; I: Hematoxylin and eosin staining of colon tissue shows increased inflammatory cell infiltration in the HO group; J-L: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction demonstrates increased mRNA levels of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and decreased levels of inhibitor of NF-κB α and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus of HO mice; M: Western blot analysis confirms higher protein levels of NF-κB and lower levels of inhibitor of NF-κB α and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus. Results are presented as mean ± SEM, with ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.001 indicating statistical significance. HO: Hypothyroid group; IL: Interleukin; TNF: Tumor necrosis factor; NF-κB: Nuclear factor κB; IκB: Inhibitor of nuclear factor κB; BDNF: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor.