Collagen changes around intestinal anastomoses in germ-free rats.
The changes in collagen, measured as hydroxyproline, concentration around both ileal and colonic anastomoses in germ-free and control rats have been investigated and compared with each other. The germ-free rats were raised, operated on and maintained under completely pyrogen-free conditions. Animals were killed 2, 3 or 7 days after operation. There was a significant reduction in the lowering of hydroxyproline concentrations around the colonic anastomosis of germ-free rats compared with control rats both in the anastomosis at days 2 and 3 (P = 0.04 and P = 0.006 respectively) and in the proximal segment at day 3 (P = 0.03). In ileal anastomoses, significant differences between control and germ-free rats were only found at 7 days. Here, the increase in hydroxyproline concentration observed in control rats was significantly reduced in germ-free rats. These data are taken to support the hypothesis that bacteria affect colonic anastomotic healing by contributing to postoperative collagen degradation.
Mastboom
W J
WJ
Department of General Surgery, St. Radboud University Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Hendriks
T
T
de Boer
H H
HH
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D007082:Ileum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014945:Wound Healing
D011506:Proteins; D003094:Collagen; D006909:Hydroxyproline