Gut breakdown after Stroke

Using an experimental model of stroke in mice, we found that the gut breaks down, releasing bacteria into the body. This results in infection. We carried out a FITC dextran gut permeability assay to confirm that the gut becomes leaky and a BaSO4 tracer and CT imaging to confirm that constipation occurs. By peeling the gut and using confocal microscopy, we are able to visualised the enteric nervous system in the gut to study how stroke signals mediate gut breakdown.