Gene copy numbers for major bacterial groups per gram of cecal contents of sham-treated rats (Cont.) and glutamine-treated rats (Gln) prior to the first cycle of chemotherapy (day 0), and 6 h after the third cycle of chemotherapy (day 3), and at day 7.

CPT-11 injections were carried out on day 1, 2, and 3 of the experiment (see Figure 1A). Glutamine bolus was administered 30 min before each CPT-11 dose. Shown are gene copy numbers of total bacteria, Bacteroides group (Bacteroid.), Lactobacillus group (Lactobact.), Bifidobacterium species (Bifidobact.) the Clostridium clusters IV, XI, and XIV, and Enterobacteriaceae. Data are shown as mean of six animals (pooled standard error of the mean). Values in the same column that do not share a common superscript differ significantly (P≤0.05).