JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments
Microbiology
0 views • 2:34 min • November 28th, 2025
Begin with hematoxylin and eosin-stained intestinal sections from heat-stressed rats, one orally pre-treated with buffer as a control, and the other with a Bacillus subtilis suspension.
Heat stress damages intestinal tight junction proteins, resulting in shortened villi and mucosal thinning.
Pre-treatment with the bacteria promotes the release of signaling molecules that stabilize tight junction proteins, preserving villus height and mucosal thickness.
Observe the sections under the high-resolution light microscope to identify differences in villus height.
Next, place a drop of fresh blood from each rat on glass slides and cover with coverslips.
Heat stress destabilizes erythrocyte membranes, releasing microvesicles into the bloodstream.
The bacteria reduce systemic oxidative stress, stabilizing erythrocyte membranes and minimizing vesiculation.
Observe the blood samples under the high-resolution light microscope to assess differences in vesiculation.
Preserved villus height in the intestinal section and fewer microvesicles in the blood confirm the protective effect of the bacteria under heat stress.
After preparing and staining sections of the small intestines according to the text protoco
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