Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) is frequently utilized to induce intestinal inflammation in animal models of colitis. This model is heavily used since it mimics the histological features of colitis, but the mechanism by which DSS induces inflammation remains unclear. Mucus, a natural biomaterial, covers the entire gastrointestinal tract and selectively controls the diffusion of molecules, particulate matter, and microorganisms to the underlying epithelial layer. Thus, we hypothesize that DSS may impact the mucus barrier. In this study, we investigated how DSS exposure affects mucus barrier properties through particle and microbe tracking, and micro-structural analysis. These studies may provide information on the potential role of an altered mucus barrier in progression of inflammation.
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