ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To further investigate the effects of cisapride on intestinal bacterial overgrowth (IBO), bacterial and endotoxin translocation, intestinal transit and permeability in cirrhotic rats. METHODS: 25 normal control rats, 25 cirrhotic rats, 20 cirrhotic rats received saline, and 20 cirrhotic rats treated with cisapride were included in the study. All animals were assessed with many variables including bacterial and endotoxin translocation, IBO, intestinal transit and permeability. RESULTS: Bacterial translocation was found in 48%(12/25) cirrhotic rats and none of control rats. Among the 20 rats with IBO, there were 11 rats with bacterial translocation (BT) while only one rats occurred BT out of the 5 rats without IBO. Cirrhotic rats with IBO had a significantly higher rate of endotoxin translocation, higher intestinal permeability and longer intestinal transit than those without IBO. BT of a specific organism was always associated with IBO of that organism. Compared with the placebo group, cisapride-treated rats had lower rates of bacterial and endotoxin translocation and IBO, which had close relationship with shorter intestinal transit and lower permeability. CONCLUSION: Endotoxin and bacterial translocation in cirrhotic rats may be the result of IBO and higher permeability. IBO may be the result of longer transit. Cisapride which can accelerate intestinal transit and improve intestinal permeability is helpful in preventing and treating intestinal bacterial and endotoxin translocation.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Translocation/drug effects , Cisapride/pharmacology , Endotoxins/metabolism , Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental/microbiology , Animals , Biological Transport , Male , Permeability , Rats , Rats, Sprague-DawleyABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate the effects of cisapride on intestinal bacterial overgrowth (IBO), bacterial and endotoxin translocation, intestinal transit and permeability in cirrhotic rats. METHODS: All animals were assessed with variables including bacterial and endotoxin translocation, intestinal bacterial overgrowth, intestinal transit and permeability. Bacterial translocation (BT) was assessed by bacterial culture of MLN, liver and spleen, IBO by a jejunal bacterial count of the specific organism, intestinal permeability by determination of the 24-hour urinary (99m)Tc-DTPA excretion and intestinal transit by measurement of the distribution of (51)Cr in the intestine. RESULTS: Bacterial translocation (BT) and IBO was found in 48 % and 80 % cirrhotic rats respectively and none in control rats. Urinary excretion of (99m)Tc-DTPA in cirrhotic rats with BT (22.2+/-7.8) was greater than these without BT (10.5+/-2.9). Intestinal transit (geometric center ratio) was significantly delayed in cirrhotic rats (0.31+/-0.06) and further more delayed in cirrhotic rats with BT (0.24+/-0.06) than these without BT (0.38+/-0.11). Cirrhotic rats with IBO had significantly higher rates of intestinal bacterial and endotoxin translocation, slower intestinal transit time and higher intestinal permeability than those without IBO. It was also found that BT was closely associated with IBO and the injury of intestinal barrier. Compared with the placebo group, cisapride-treated rats had lower rates of bacterial/endotoxin translocation and IBO, which was closely associated with increased intestinal transit and improved intestinal permeability by cisapride. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that endotoxin and bacterial translocation in cirrhotic rats may be attributed to IBO and increased intestinal permeability. Cisapride that accelerates intestinal transit and improve intestinal permeability might be helpful in preventing intestinal bacterial and endotoxin translocation.
