Fig. 2
The NaHCO3 treatment did not impact T-helper, CD11bc + CD38 + , CD4- T cells, and CD4-FoxP3 + T cells. Spleen denervation increased CD11bc + CD38 + cells and suppressed CD4-FoxP3 + T cells. SD and SH rats were randomly assigned to drink H2O or NaHCO3, spleen was processed for immunophenotyping by flow cytometry. All values represent the percentage of live cells (an expanded gating for all cells can be seen in Additional file 1: Fig. S2a, b), with marker positivity listed below cell subtypes. The interaction was considered present for p < 0.15 and pse > 0.04. Two-Factor ANOVA results: a CD11bc + CD38 + cells, no interaction p = 0.559, treatment p = 0.317, surgery p = 0.043*; b CD3 + CD4 + cells, no interaction p = 0.690, treatment p = 0.632, surgery p = 0.509; c CD3 + CD4-cells, no interaction p = 0.777, treatment p = 0.564, surgery p = 0.168; d CD3 + CD4-FoxP3 + , no interaction p = 0.861, treatment p = 0.830, surgery *p = 0.011;. The p and pse values of interest (2-factor ANOVA, and test of simple effects) are listed on each figure if respective group effects were important (p < 0.05 and/or pse > 0.06). e Representative gating for Tregs isolated from the spleen of SH and SD rats, treated with H2O or NaHCO3. The color light red represents H2O and light blue NaCHO3. To the left is the formula used to calculate Treg’s final number and y and x-axis. *Significant differences p < 0.05 or moderate ES (pse > 0.06); ** p < 0.01 or large ES (pse > 0.14). Figure created with NovoExpress and Prism GraphPad