title: 'Normalization' of germfree mice with anaerobically cultured caecal flora of 'normal' mice.
abstract: Germfree (GF) mice were inoculated with a cultured flora from 10(-1), 10(-3), 10(-5), and 10(-7) dilutions of caecal contents from a 'normal' mouse. GF mice associated with a flora of a 'normal' mouse served as controls. The following intestinal parameters were determined: Colonization resistance (CR), Relative caecal weight (RCW), villus:crypt ratio (jejunum and ileum), IgA-producing cells (jejunum and ileum), beta-aspartyl glycine (faeces), volatile and non-volatile fatty acids (caecum) and bile acids (faeces). Only the 10(-1) culture was able to induce similar changes in the GF mice to a 'normal' flora. The GF + 10(-5) and GF + 10(-7) groups deviated markedly from the controls while the GF + 10(-3) group showed in general intermediate values between GF + SPF and GF + 10(-1) on the one hand and GF + 10(-5) and GF + 10(-7) on the other hand. beta-aspartyl glycine was present only in the GF + 10(-7) group. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of ileal contents revealed segmented filamentous organisms in the ileum of controls and the GF + 10(-1) group. The faecal flora consisted mainly of fusiform organisms. In the faeces of the 10(-5) and 10(-7) groups increasing amounts of non-bacterial matter were found, while in the faeces of the other groups virtually only bacteria were seen.
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000032:analysis; D002432:Cecum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000032:analysis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development*; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D007082:Ileum / Q000382:microbiology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice / Q000382:microbiology*; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009929:Organ Size
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D004151:Dipeptides; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; C018459:beta-aspartylglycine