[Effect of alum on intestinal microecological balance in mice].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the degree of microecological imbalance induced by alum in normal intestine of mice, and the bacterial adherence activity in the intestine of the mice administered orally with alum.


METHODS
The mice were medicated orally with alum of small and large doses (0.25 g/kg and 1 g/kg) for 8 weeks, then 5 weeks after stopping administration of alum, microflora analysis and bacterial adherence to intestinal mucosal epithelial cells were carried out respectively.


RESULTS
Eight weeks after administration with alum, the counts of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli decreased significantly, but the numbers of pathogenetic E. Coli increased significantly. The adherence rate of Bifidobacteria to the enterocytes of mice reduced markedly, but E. Coli was on the contrary of Bifidobacteria. Five weeks after the ceasing of medication, the intestinal flora were balanced, the adherence rate of both strains as mentioned above recovered to normal level.


CONCLUSIONS
The imbalance of intestinal flora of mice administered with alum for a long time were only the transient change of bacterial counts. The imbalance of intestinal flora and the adherence rate of bacteria regained normal status five weeks after cancelling action factor.
Yan
M
M
Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing (100700).
Ye
W
W
Song
H
H
D000534:Alum Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice
D000534:Alum Compounds; C041524:aluminum sulfate