Marker-based assays for studying gut transit in gnotobiotic and conventional mouse models.

Gastrointestinal motility is regulated by a variety of environmental factors including gut microbes and metabolites. The ability to interrogate mouse models of gut motility has enabled elucidation of these relationships. Here we describe integration of the red carmine dye and fluorescence isothiocyanate-dextran marker-based assays for characterizing gut transit with spatial resolution, along with an optional intracolonic infusion protocol for studying the effects of metabolites on colonic transit. These protocols can be adapted for use in gnotobiotic and conventional mouse models. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Li et al. (2021).