Effect of bacterial monoassociation on brush-border enzyme activities in ex-germ-free piglets: comparison of commensal and pathogenic Escherichia coli strains.

This study was designed to investigate the effect of monoassociation of germ-free piglets with Escherichia coli strains on the development of intestinal brush-border enzyme activities. Piglets were delivered by hysterectomy, reared for seven days under germ-free conditions and fed milk formula diet. One group was maintained germ-free, the other four groups were monoassociated on day eight with one of four E. coli strains: non-pathogenic O86 or O83 and G58-1, or pathogenic 933D. The development of brush-border digestive enzyme functions in the small intestine was evaluated after 15 days. Germ-free controls exhibited slower developmental declines of lactase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and alkaline phosphatase, and delayed increases of sucrase and glucoamylase compared to conventionally grown animals. Association of germ-free piglets with the non-pathogenic E. coli strains O86 and O83 resulted in increased enterocyte differentiation along the length of the small intestine, accompanied by declining activities of lactase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and alkaline phosphatase, and elevated activities of maturational markers such as sucrase and glucoamylase. Maturational changes also occurred along the villus-crypt axis, as revealed by histochemical localization of aminopeptidase N on the villi tips in piglets colonized with E. coli O83. Interestingly, colonization with the pathogenic E. coli strain 933D stimulated changes in the main differentiation enzyme markers lactase, sucrase and glucoamylase to an extent comparable with those produced by the non-pathogenic and probiotic E. coli strains. In conclusion, germ-free piglets represent a valuable tool to study the consequences of colonization of the immature sterile gut with defined strains of bacteria.

The effect of bromide on the ultrastructure of rat thyrocytes.

Electron microscopic examination of thyroid tissue following administration of bromide to rats showed marked hypertrophy and hyperplasia in the thyrocytes, microfollicular rearrangement and lowered volume of colloid. The luminal surface of the thyrocytes showed increased size and number of microvilli, often filling the microlumen. Most of the nuclei were irregular in shape with unusual incisions and a higher density of chromatin. Proliferation of ER was seen with significantly dilated cisterns containing low electron density material. The Golgi complex was well developed and larger in rats receiving 10 mg Br/l drinking water (16 days) and 100 mg Br/l (16 and 66 days) than in control rats. Granules and small spherical structures (50-100 nm) appeared in the subapical part of the cytoplasm and their number increased in animals after administration of 50 mg Br-/l (16 and 66 days), 100 mg Br-/l (16 and 66 days), 200 and 400 mg Br-/l (133 days). In contrast, their number was reduced in thyrocytes of rats treated with 100 mg Br/l (16, 66 and 133 days). Colloid droplets were only rarely found. There was no significant change in the amount of mitochondria, secondary lysosomes including phagolysosomes. Some thyrocytes showed signs of necrosis in animals following administration of 10 mg Br/l (16 days, 100 and 400 mg Br/l, 133 days). Clusters of thyrocytes with spongy cytoplasm and bizarre shaped nuclei were found in groups treated with 100 mg Br/l, and 400 mg Br-/l (133 days). These changes, with previously published light microscopical, radioanalytical and biochemical findings, confirm the goitrogenic effect of bromide.