Effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactobacillus reuteri R2LC on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats.
BACKGROUND
Certain lactobacilli reduce the severity of experimental colitis. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a human strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and a rat strain Lactobacillus reuteri R2LC on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats.


METHODS
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus reuteri R2LC or sulphasalazine were given orally to the rats. Colitis was assessed 72 h after induction with acetic acid.


RESULTS
Lactobacillus reuteri R2LC significantly antagonized body weight loss caused by inflammation compared with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and sulphasalazine, and oedema formation in the colon compared with sulphasalazine. Lactobacillus reuteri R2LC reduced the median value of macroscopic ulceration and the protein content of inducible nitric oxide synthase by 50% and the median of the protein content of inducible cyclooxygenase by 30% compared with that of the colitis control group, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG reduced the median of inducible nitric oxide protein content by 40% and increased the median of inducible cyclooxygenase protein content by 30% compared with the median value of the colitis control group, but these differences were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The rat strain Lactobacillus reuteri R2LC, but not the human strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, is of benefit in reducing the severity of acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. These results suggest that it is not the total amount of Lactobacillus but the particular species or strain of Lactobacillus that is important in attenuating experimental colitis.
Holma
R
R
Institute of Biomedicine, Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, P.O. Box 63, FIN-00014, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Salmenperä
P
P
Lohi
J
J
Vapaatalo
H
H
Korpela
R
R
D019342:Acetic Acid; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000382:microbiology; D003106:Colon / Q000201:enzymology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D004435:Eating; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000145:classification; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010544:Peroxidases; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D019342:Acetic Acid