Probiotics attenuated acute pancreatitis-associated mucosal damage.

<p>After 5 days of pre-treatment with placebo (pla, n = 12) or probiotics (pro, n = 12), rats were subjected to acute pancreatitis (AP, n = 12), or a sham-procedure (n = 12). (A) Sections of ileum were H&E stained and graded according to Chiu <i>et al.</i> (25). The graph shows median (±range). Comparisons were performed using Kruskal-Wallis followed by Mann–Whitney <i>U</i> test. (B) Compared with sham-operated animals (Sham), acute pancreatitis (AP) caused widespread destruction of villi. Placebo treated animals (AP pla) also showed a severe degree of mucosal damage. Probiotic animals (AP pro) showed extensive epithelial lifting, but with intact epithelium. The mucosal damage is typical of that seen in 4 sections from 12 rats per group. Bar = 200 µm. (C) Lipid peroxidation (MDA levels) (control n = 5, sham n = 12, AP n = 12, AP pla n = 12 and AP pro n = 12). The graph shows the average (±SD). Comparisons were performed using ANOVA followed by Tukey's HSD.