Barrier measurements
Mean TEER recorded before treatment was 2469 ± 753.6
Ω∙cm2 and corresponds to a tight epithelium. The
untreated samples remained stable during the experiment, with a mean
TEER at T0 of 4051 ± 299 Ω.cm2 and at T7 of 3940 ± 372
Ω.cm2. In this chronic model, protamine treated
samples had a significant lower start TEER in comparison with untreated
samples ( 489.1± 292 [Ω∙cm2] vs 4051.7 ± 299.5
[Ω∙cm2], p < .001). At the start of the
experiment (right after protamine and CS treatment) the treated groups
were homogenous in TEER, respectively 563.5 ± 20.4
Ω∙cm2 and 589.6 ± 27.5Ω∙cm2 (see
table 2), therefore showing that CS solution does not give a direct TEER
increase.
As seen in figure 3, CS treatment has a positive effect on recovery of
TEER, this was observed on all 3 days and effects were more profound in
time, leading to TEER values more than 3 times higher compared to non-CS
treated samples (1598.5 ± 95.1 Ω∙cm2 vs 544.8 ± 138.8
Ω∙cm2, p=.001). The recovery rate (%) from baseline
increased for both groups, but absolute values of TEER for the protamine
alone group drop behind. On day 2 and 3, TEER start and end values were
significantly lower (p<.001), see table 2 and figure 3.