Allopurinol and glutamine attenuate bacterial translocation in chronic portal hypertensive and common bile duct ligated growing rats.
BACKGROUND
Spontaneous bacterial infections and septicaemia result in morbidity and mortality in patients with portal hypertension and obstructive jaundice.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study in rats was to investigate the incidence of bacterial translocation in portal hypertension and obstructive jaundice, and to evaluate the effects of allopurinol and glutamine.


METHODS
Rats were subjected to sham laparotomy (SL), portal hypertension (PH) by calibrated stenosis of the portal vein, and common bile duct ligation (CBDL). Animals of each group were either treated with allopurinol (50 mg/kg twice a week), glutamine (1 g/kg/d), and allopurinol and glutamine.


RESULTS
After four weeks, significant bacterial translocation in the untreated PH and CBDL rats occurred. Intestinal mucosal malondialdehyde concentrations (MDA), as an indicator for lipid peroxidation, and myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) released from activated neutrophils were also significantly increased (p < 0.01). Allopurinol and glutamine in PH and CBDL rats improved bacterial translocation, and decreased MDA and MPO values (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
In PH and CBDL rats significant bacterial translocation, ileal mucosal lipid peroxidation, and neutrophil derived MPO activity occurred. Allopurinol and glutamine significantly reduced bacterial translocation, as well as ileal mucosal MDA and MPO activities.
Schimpl
G
G
Department of Paediatric Surgery, University of Graz, Austria.
Pesendorfer
P
P
Steinwender
G
G
Feierl
G
G
Ratschek
M
M
Höllwarth
M E
ME
D000493:Allopurinol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D018988:Bacterial Translocation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001651:Cholestasis, Extrahepatic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003135:Common Bile Duct / Q000601:surgery; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005973:Glutamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D007082:Ileum / Q000737:chemistry; D007813:Laparotomy; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005973:Glutamine; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D000493:Allopurinol; D009195:Peroxidase