title: Pectin-supplemented enteral diet reduces the severity of methotrexate induced enterocolitis in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Administration of methotrexate (MTX) to rats fed an elemental diet results in a high mortality from severe enterocolitis. Previous studies have shown that pectin is an important precursor of substrates for intestinal structure and function and may facilitate intestinal recovery after enterocolitis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of pectin on MTX-induced enterocolitis in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats received intragastric infusion of either 1% pectin-supplemented or pectin-free elemental diet from the beginning of the study via a gastrostomy. On the 4th day animals received either MTX, 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally, or saline injection and were killed on the 7th day for sampling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pectin supplementation significantly decreased body weight loss, organ water content, and intestinal myeloperoxidase levels and increased mucosal protein, DNA, and RNA content in enterocolitis rats. The intestinal permeability was increased by administration of MTX, and pectin supplementation significantly reversed the increased permeability in the distal small bowel and colon. Pectin supplementation also lowered the magnitude of bacterial translocation, decreased plasma endotoxin levels, and restored bowel microecology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pectin significantly decreased MTX-induced intestinal injury and improved bowel integrity.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Surgery, Lund University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kasravi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nobaek
authors.forename: L Q
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adawi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stenram
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Molin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bengmark
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jeppsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018988:Bacterial Translocation; D002432:Cecum / Q000382:microbiology; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D004760:Enterocolitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000178:diet therapy*; D005526:Food, Formulated; D007082:Ileum / Q000382:microbiology; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate; D010368:Pectins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D010368:Pectins; D009195:Peroxidase; D008727:Methotrexate