Abdominal radiation causes bacterial translocation.
The purpose of this study was to determine if a single dose of radiation to the rat abdomen leads to bacterial translocation into the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN). A second issue addressed was whether translocation correlates with anatomic damage to the mucosa. The radiated group (1100 cGy) which received anesthesia also was compared with a control group and a third group which received anesthesia alone but no abdominal radiation. Abdominal radiation lead to 100% positive cultures of MLN between 12 hr and 4 days postradiation. Bacterial translocation was almost nonexistent in the control and anesthesia group. Signs of inflammation and ulceration of the intestinal mucosa were not seen until Day 3 postradiation. Mucosal damage was maximal by Day 4. Bacterial translocation onto the MLN after a single dose of abdominal radiation was not apparently dependent on anatomical, histologic damage of the mucosa.
Guzman-Stein
G
G
University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis 55455.
Bonsack
M
M
Liberty
J
J
Delaney
J P
JP
D000005:Abdomen / Q000528:radiation effects*; D000758:Anesthesia; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000528:radiation effects; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D005260:Female; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology; D008643:Mesentery; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors