Modulation of small intestinal homeostasis along with its microflora during acclimatization at simulated hypobaric hypoxia.

At high altitude (HA) hypobaric hypoxic environment manifested several pathophysiological consequences of which gastrointestinal (GI) disorder are very common phenomena. To explore the most possible clue behind this disorder intestinal flora, the major player of the GI functions, were subjected following simulated hypobaric hypoxic treatment in model animal. For this, male albino rats were exposed to 55 kPa (~ 4872.9 m) air pressure consecutively for 30 days for 8 h/day and its small intestinal microflora, their secreted digestive enzymes and stress induced marker protein were investigated of the luminal epithelia. It was observed that population density of total aerobes significantly decreased, but the quantity of total anaerobes and Escherichia coli increased significantly after 30 days of hypoxic stress. The population density of strict anaerobes like Bifidobacterium sp., Bacteroides sp. and Lactobacillus sp. and obligate anaerobes like Clostridium perfringens and Peptostreptococcus sp. were expanded along with their positive growth direction index (GDI). In relation to the huge multiplication of anaerobes the amount of gas formation as well as content of IgA and IgG increased in duration dependent manner. The activity of some luminal enzymes from microbial origin like α-amylase, gluco-amylase, proteinase, alkaline phosphatase and β-glucuronidase were also elevated in hypoxic condition. Besides, hypoxia induced in formation of malondialdehyde along with significant attenuation of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase activity and lowered GSH/GSSG pool in the intestinal epithelia. Histological study revealed disruption of intestinal epithelial barrier with higher infiltration of lymphocytes in lamina propia and atrophic structure. It can be concluded that hypoxia at HA modified GI microbial imprint and subsequently causes epithelial barrier dysfunction which may relate to the small intestinal dysfunction at HA.

Effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus & epidermal growth factor on experimentally induced Clostridium difficile infection.

Background & objectives: Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) remains an important nosocomial ailment. Antimicrobial therapy used for CDAD gives inconsistent results. This experimental study was planned to investigate the beneficial effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus and epidermal growth factor (EGF) for CDAD management. Methods: Among 10 groups of BALB/c mice (6 in each), group 1 served as controls receiving no inoculum. Animals in groups 2-10 received C. difficile, those in groups 3, 6 and 9 received L. acidophilus and those in groups 4, 7 and 10 received EGF after C. difficile inoculation. Animals in groups 5-7 were pre-treated with ampicillin and those in groups 8-10 with lansoprazole prior to C. difficile. The animals were killed and investigated for colonisation by C. difficile and toxin production, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and histopathology. Results: Colonisation by C. difficile was found to be significantly different (P<0.001) in the various groups. C. difficile toxin titres and MPO activity were significantly lower in animals given L. acidophilus and EGF after ampicillin (groups 6 and 7) and lansoprazole (groups 9 and 10). The severity of acute inflammation was also significantly less (P<0.05) in caecal and colonic segments of animals in groups 6 and 7 compared to those in group 5. Although the severity of acute inflammation was less in the caecal and colonic segment of animals in groups 9 and 10, the reduction was not significant compared to group 8. Interpretation & conclusions: Our findings showed that the administration of L. acidophilus and EGF reduced the severity of C. difficile infection in the experimental animals.

Quantitative analysis of the neurons from the myenteric plexus in the ileum of rats submitted to severe protein deficiency / Análise quantitativa dos neurônios do plexo mientérico do íleo de ratos submetidos a intensa carência de proteínas

The effects of protein malnutrition on the quantitative aspects of the myenteric plexus in the ileum of adult Rattus norvegicus were assessed. Thirty 90-day-old rats were divided into two groups: Control Group (CG, n=15) and Experimental Group (EG, n=15). The CG received 26 percent protein chow and the EG received 4 percent protein chow for 90 days. At the end of the experiment, the animals from the CG weighed 369.63±26.33, and the ones from the EG 215.34±56.31. The ileum was submitted to Giemsa, NADH- and NADPH-diaphorase technique in order to evidence nervous cells in the whole-mount preparations. Animals from the EG presented a 41.75 percent body weight loss in relation to the CG as well as 17.6 percent length reduction for the ileum-jejunum. Moreover, the organ was 41 percent lighter for the EG. Giemsa-stained neurons were 17.02 percent more concentrated in the EG (p>0.05). NADH-diaphorase-stained neurons were 26.6 percent more concentrated in the EG (p<0.05), while the NADPH-diaphorase were 26.28 percent more concentrated in this group (p<0.05).

Avaliou-se o efeito da desnutrição protéica sobre o número de neurônios mientéricos do íleo de ratos adultos. Foram utilizados 30 animais (90 dias de idade), divididos em dois grupos: controle (GC, n=15) e experimental (GE, n=15), sendo oferecido ao GC ração com teor protéico de 26 por cento e, para o GE, ração com 4 por cento de proteína, durante 90 dias. Os animais do grupo controle pesaram 369,63±26,33g e o experimental 215,34±56,31g. Preparados de membrana do íleo foram submetidos à técnica de Giemsa, NADH- e NADPH-diaforase. Os animais do GE apresentaram perda de peso de 41,75 por cento, em relação ao GC e redução do comprimento do jejuno-íleo de 17,6 por cento, além disso, o órgão apresentou-se 41 por cento mais leve no GE. Os neurônios corados com a técnica de Giemsa apresentaram-se 17,02 por cento mais concentrados no GE (p>0,05). Os neurônios NADH-diaforase apresentaram-se 26,60 por cento mais concentrados no GE (p<0,05). E os neurônios NADPH-diaforase apresentaram-se 26,28 por cento mais concentrados neste grupo (p<0,05).

Atividade dissacaridásica intestinal da esquistossomose mansônica: estudo evolutivo em camundongos com diferentes cargas de infestaçäo / Intestinal activity of disaccharides in schistosomiasis mansoni: study of the course in mice with different loads of infestation

A esquistossomose mansônica compromete vários órgäos, sendo o intestino e o fígado os mais agredidos. Com a intençäo de verificar o comprometimento do intestino delgado, dependente da intensidade e do tempo de infecçäo pelo Schistosoma mansoni, analisou-se a atividade das dissacaridases - lactase, sacarase e maltase - em 112 camundongos, distribuídos em 3 grupos: grupo I - controle, grupo II - infestado com 30 cercárias, grupo III - infestado com 60 cercárias. Observou-se uma diminuiçäo da atividade lactásica, sacarásica e maltásica do intestino delgado, decorrente da infestaçäo esquistossomótica, do tempo de infestaçäo e da alteraçäo entre ambos. O íleo é o segmento que demonstrou maior sensibilidade a esquistossomose, tendo uma diminuiçäo das suas dissacaridases a partir da fase inicial de infestaçäo. Opostamente, o jejuno só mais tardiamente mostra essas alteraçöes, exceto em relaçäo a lactase. Detectou-se um aumento da atividade dissacaridásica, inclusive para a lactase, em todos os grupos, com a evoluçäo etária dos animais, quantitativamente menor nos infestados. Cargas de 30 e 60 cercárias devem ser consideradas do mesmo porte, pois produziram reduçäo semelhante na atividade dissacaridásica

Monamine oxidation in different organs of rat.

Monoamine axodation has been studied in different organs of adult rats. Activity of monoamine dehydrogenase (MADH) has been measured both aerobically and anaerobically. Brain is the organ where maximum activity of MADH has been observed while in ovary the minimal enzyme activity has been noticed. In the absence of air, the activity proceeded at faster rate whereas MAO activity cannot take place in absence of oxygen. Oxygen can not be replaced by other electron acceptors like NTC. However, in some organs like pancreas, the formazan production was almost negligible. Aerobically moderate MADH activity was observed in case of ileum and testis. On the other hand, spleen, brain, testis and lung homogenates showed moderate amount of tetrazolium salts reduction in absence of air. This indicates the differential nature of the MADH activities in aerobic and anaerobic condition. High activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO) has been observed in liver. Brain and pancreas were also found good organs for MAO activity, but liver homogenate failed to reduce tetrazolium salt. Only dialysed liver homogenate in the presence of tryptamine, demonstrated moderate activity of MADH. Relative activity of both the enzymes has been studied. The organwise distribution pattern of MAO and MADH appeared quite different.