The association between enteric bacterial overgrowth and gastrointestinal motility after subtotal liver resection or portal vein obstruction in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that intestinal motility is delayed after hepatectomy, which alters the ecology of the enteric microflora and contributes to the development of bacterial translocation from the gut.


METHODS
Open experimental study.


METHODS
University department of surgery.


METHODS
Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 6 in each group at each time point).


METHODS
Sham operation, 90% hepatectomy, and portal venous obstruction.


METHODS
Intestinal morphology, immunocytochemistry of the enteric nervous system, enteric bacterial growth in the small intestine and colon, and intestinal transit time.


RESULTS
Intestinal transit was already delayed one hour after 90% hepatectomy, and histopathological alterations and overgrowth by Escherichia Coli had developed after two hours. There were significant differences in intestinal transit time between sham operated rats and those subjected to portal venous obstruction on the one hand, and those that underwent 90% hepatectomy on the other. There was no difference in intestinal transit time between rats with portal venous obstruction and the sham operated animals.


CONCLUSIONS
Delayed intestinal transit after 90% hepatectomy may contribute to enteric bacterial overgrowth and thereby contribute to the development of bacterial translocation from the gut.
Wang
X D
XD
Department of Surgery, Lund University, Sweden.
Guo
W D
WD
Wang
Q
Q
Andersson
R
R
Ekblad
E
E
Soltesz
V
V
Bengmark
S
S
D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000502:physiology; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D003106:Colon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D004386:Duodenum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000473:pathology; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007082:Ileum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000032:analysis; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis
D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide