Fig. 6

Effects of lactulose and hydrogen-rich water on claudin-3(CLDN3) protein density levels of the small intestine in female piglets fed Fusarium mycotoxin-contaminated diet. a Representative immunohistochemical staining images of CLDN3 protein in the duodenum (a1–4), jejunum (a5–8), and ileum (a9–12) were obtained at 400× magnification with red bar = 50 μm. b Mean density (arbitrary units) in the small intestine of piglets fed Fusarium mycotoxin-contaminated diet. Each column represents the mean values (n = 5), with their standard deviation (SD) represented by vertical bars. Letters above the bars not sharing the same lower (P < 0.05) or upper (P < 0.01) case superscript letters are significantly different. NC = basal diet; MC = Fusarium mycotoxin-contaminated diet; MC + HRW = Fusarium mycotoxin-contaminated diet with hydrogen-rich water treatment; MC + LAC = Fusarium mycotoxin-contaminated diet with lactulose treatment