Phospholipids prevent enteric bacterial translocation in the early stage of experimental acute liver failure in the rat.
BACKGROUND
Bacterial infections and bacteremia in acute liver failure may at least partly be attributed to translocation of enteric bacteria. Attempts to prevent or treat such infections by the use of antibiotics may instead result in overgrowth of surviving microbes.


METHODS
In the present study, normal saline (1.5 ml/100 g body weight), phosphatidylcholine (1.5 ml/100 g body weight), and phosphatidylinositol (1.5 ml/100 g body weight) were orally administered by means of a gastric tube both 12 h and 30 min before operation. Effects of enteric administration of phospholipids on the prevention of enteric bacterial translocation, intestinal and mucosal mass, and enterocyte protein contents in acute liver failure induced by subtotal liver resection in the rat were evaluated.


RESULTS
The incidence of bacterial translocation increased significantly 2 and 4 h after 90% hepatectomy as compared with sham-operated animals. Enteric administration of phospholipids, however, significantly reduced the incidence of bacterial translocation after 90% hepatectomy. Phospholipid treatment prevented the postoperative decrease in intestinal mucosal mass and enterocyte protein content.


CONCLUSIONS
Enteral administration of phospholipids thus seems to protect against translocation of enteric bacteria and prevent against a decrease in intestinal mucosal mass and enterocyte protein content after subtotal hepatectomy in the rat.
Wang
X D
XD
Dept. of Surgery, Lund University, Sweden.
Andersson
R
R
Soltesz
V
V
Wang
W Q
WQ
Ar'Rajab
A
A
Bengmark
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D003106:Colon / Q000382:microbiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006498:Hepatectomy; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols