Fig. 7

Effects of PA-FMT on behavioral impairments, AD-like pathologies and C/EBPβ/AEP signaling pathway in the germ-free TgCRND8 mice. A, B Experimental design and treatment schedule for identifying the involvement of gut microbiota on the anti-AD effects of PA; C–K effects of PA-FMT on behavioral impairments and cognitive deficits in the germ-free TgCRND8 mice (n = 7–8). C Representative images of the movement paths in OFT; D distance traveled in OFT; E movement velocity in OFT; F time spent in the center zone in OFT; G Recognition Index in NORT; H representative images of the swimming paths of mice in the MWMT probe test; I escape latency to platform during training days in MWMT; J number of the target quadrant crossing in the target quadrant in the MWMT probe test; K the time spent in the target quadrant in the MWMT probe test; L swimming speed in the MWMT probe test; M Aβ₄₀ and Aβ₄₂ levels and Aβ₄₂/Aβ₄₀ ratio (n = 5); N representative western blotting images and quantitative analysis of the protein expressions of hyperphosphorylated tau in the hippocampus (n = 3); O representative western blotting images and quantitative analysis of the protein expressions of C/EBPβ and AEP in the hippocampus (n = 3). Data were expressed as the mean ± SEM (n = 3–8). ^#p < 0.05, ^##p < 0.01 and ^####p < 0.0001 compared with the WT group; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 and ****p < 0.0001 compared with the Tg + vehicle group