Effect of lactulose on bacterial translocation.
OBJECTIVE
To find out if lactulose can prevent the bacterial translocation that is induced by obstructive jaundice in rats.


METHODS
Laboratory experiment.


METHODS
Teaching hospital, Turkey.


METHODS
50 male Wistar-albino rats.


METHODS
10 rats were not operated on and used as controls; 20 rats underwent laparotomy and sham ligation of the common bile duct (CBD); 20 had the CBD ligated alone; and 20 had the CBD ligated and were given oral lactulose 2 ml/day until death. All rats were killed after 14 days.


METHODS
Presence of Escherichia coli in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), and bacterial overgrowth as indicated by counts of E coli in the caecum.


RESULTS
There was significantly less bacterial translocation to MLN in the group that had been given lactulose compared with CBD-ligated and lactulose not given (2/20 compared with 8/20, p = 0.06). There was also a significant reduction in the number of Gram negative bacteria in that group (p = < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Lactulose seems to reduce the incidence of translocation from the gut to MLN in rats with obstructive jaundice.
Ozaslan
C
C
Department of Surgery, Ankara University School of Medicine, Turkey.
Türkçapar
A G
AG
Kesenci
M
M
Karayalçin
K
K
Yerdel
M A
MA
Bengisun
S
S
Törüner
A
A
D000818:Animals; D018988:Bacterial Translocation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002779:Cholestasis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007792:Lactulose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008208:Lymphatic System; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D007792:Lactulose