Effect of rotavirus infection on lipid composition and glucose uptake in infant mouse intestine.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of rotavirus infection on lipid composition and glucose uptake in small intestine of infant mice. METHODS: Thirty six 7-day old balb/c mice were given 50 mL (100 ID50) rotavirus suspension orally; 36 control animals received only normal saline. Body weight of animals was recorded. Six animals in each group were sacrificed on days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 post-inoculation (pi). Intestines were removed, everted and homogenized in ice-cold saline. Cholesterol and phospholipid content, glucose uptake and alkaline phosphatase in the jejunum and ileum were determined. RESULTS: Rotavirus infection led to a significant decrease in body weight with on days 3 and 5 pi as compared to controls, and to an increase in cholesterol and phospholipid content of the intestine. Uptake of glucose also increased significantly. Alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly reduced on days 3 and 5 pi as compared to controls. CONCLUSION: This study provides characterization of the lipid composition and uptake of glucose in infant mice small intestinal segments during rotavirus infection.

Study of oxidative-stress in rotavirus infected infant mice.

Rotavirus induced diarrhoea was investigated in neonatal mice. Assessment of oxidative/antioxidative profile was the mechanistic approach to study the nature of injury. Neonatal mice (NMRI strain) were infected orally with the homologous strain of (EB) rotavirus (serotype 3). The peak severity of rotavirus infection was attained on the third day post infection. The whole small intestine of neonatal mice on day 3 post infection was homogenized and analysed for oxidative/antioxidative profile. Glutathione and related thiols were significantly declined in rotavirus infected group. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase (1-chloro 2, 4 dinitrobenzene) activities were also decreased in the rotavirus infected group. The activities of glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase (ethacrynic acid) however were elevated with rotavirus infection in comparison to the control group. Similarly, ADP-FeCI3, NADPH induced lipid peroxidation was elevated with rotavirus infection. Thus the altered oxidative/antioxidative profile indicated the presence of oxidative stress in the rotavirus infected group and can be postulated to have a prominent role in the pathogenesis of the disease.