Fig. 3
L. reuteri BBC3 and LrEVs attenuate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal injury and inflammation in broiler chickens. a Experimental schedule for LPS challenge and administration of L. reuteri BBC3 and LrEVs. LPS (500 μg/bird) from E. coli O111: B4 was intraperitoneally injected 3 times; L. reuteri BBC3 (5 × 109 CFU/bird) and purified LrEVs (200 μg/bird) in 200 μL protectant (5% skim milk) were given 7 times by gavage. b Growth performance of each treatment from 7 to 21 days of age, including average daily weight gain (ADWG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed gain ratio (F/G) and mortality. c Representative image of each treatment group from hematoxylin and eosin-stained jejunum slides. d Intestinal morphology analysis based on measurements of villus height, crypt depth and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (VH/CD) in jejunum tissues. Values are expressed as means ± SEM (n = 6). *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; NS, not significant