L. fermentum CECT5716 supplementation enhanced endothelial function
In order to evaluate the impact of L. fermentum in obesity-associated cardiovascular dysfunction, endothelium-dependent vasodilator responses to acetylcholine from aortae of mice from different experimental groups were analyzed. HFD-fed mice showed a reduction in the maximal relaxant response in comparison with control mice (Emax values were 59.5±4.7% and 71.7±2.0% in the HFD and control-diet groups, respectively; P<0.05) when the concentration-response curves to acetylcholine were analyzed (Figure 6A). The administration of the probiotic L. fermentum CECT5716 to obese mice significantly improved the altered endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by acetylcholine, obtaining similar Emax values to those in control diet-fed mice (72.2±3.8%) (Figure 6A). When the aortic rings were previously incubated with the NADPH oxidase inhibitor VAS2870, no significant differences in the maximal relaxant response were observed among experimental groups. Accordingly, NADPH oxidase activity was significantly increased in the aortic rings from HFD-fed mice compared to control mice, and this activity was reduced in the aortic rings from HFD-fed mice treated with the probiotic (Figure 6B). Moreover, the beneficial impact exerted by the probiotic on vascular function was also associated with reduced expression of pro-inflammatory markers, including Il-1β , Tnf-α and Tlr4 , in aortae tissue in comparison with control obese mice (Figure 6B).