Effects of HFD on intestinal morphology.

Representative micrographs (A, B, G, H), numbers of neurons in myenteric (MG) and submucous ganglia (SG) (C, D), and morphometrics (E, F) in ileum and colon from mice fed a high fat diet (HFD, dark grey bars) or a normal diet (ND, light grey bars) for 6 months. A–B cryosections from ileum of ND (A) and HFD (B) immunostained for HuC/HuD-biotin. Myenteric neurons, are indicated with arrowheads. C–D numbers of neurons per mm in longitudinally cut sections of the intestine. HFD reduces myenteric neuronal density in ileum (C) and colon (D) compared to ND. Numbers of submucous neurons are unchanged in both intestinal regions. E–F HFD causes a reduction of mucosal thickness in ileum (E), but not in colon (F) compared to ND. G–H cryosections from ileum of ND (G) and HFD (H) mice, stained with Bodipy®493/503 to illustrate lipid droplets within muscularis propria. HFD markedly increases intramuscular lipid droplet formation. Data (C–F) are expressed as mean ± SEM, ** p<0.01, *** p<0.001, in C–D n = 8 ND, n = 13 HFD, in E–F n = 5 ND, n = 6 HFD. Bars represent 20 µm.