Effect of cisapride on intestinal bacterial and endotoxin translocation in cirrhosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of cisapride on intestinal bacterial overgrowth (IBO), bacterial and endotoxin translocation, intestinal transit and permeability in cirrhotic rats.


METHODS
All animals were assessed with variables including bacterial and endotoxin translocation, intestinal bacterial overgrowth, intestinal transit and permeability. Bacterial translocation (BT) was assessed by bacterial culture of MLN, liver and spleen, IBO by a jejunal bacterial count of the specific organism, intestinal permeability by determination of the 24-hour urinary (99m)Tc-DTPA excretion and intestinal transit by measurement of the distribution of (51)Cr in the intestine.


RESULTS
Bacterial translocation (BT) and IBO was found in 48 % and 80 % cirrhotic rats respectively and none in control rats. Urinary excretion of (99m)Tc-DTPA in cirrhotic rats with BT (22.2+/-7.8) was greater than these without BT (10.5+/-2.9). Intestinal transit (geometric center ratio) was significantly delayed in cirrhotic rats (0.31+/-0.06) and further more delayed in cirrhotic rats with BT (0.24+/-0.06) than these without BT (0.38+/-0.11). Cirrhotic rats with IBO had significantly higher rates of intestinal bacterial and endotoxin translocation, slower intestinal transit time and higher intestinal permeability than those without IBO. It was also found that BT was closely associated with IBO and the injury of intestinal barrier. Compared with the placebo group, cisapride-treated rats had lower rates of bacterial/endotoxin translocation and IBO, which was closely associated with increased intestinal transit and improved intestinal permeability by cisapride.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that endotoxin and bacterial translocation in cirrhotic rats may be attributed to IBO and increased intestinal permeability. Cisapride that accelerates intestinal transit and improve intestinal permeability might be helpful in preventing intestinal bacterial and endotoxin translocation.
Zhang
Shun-Cai
SC
Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China. zhangsc.zshospital.@net
Wang
Wei
W
Ren
Wei-Ying
WY
He
Bo-Ming
BM
Zhou
Kang
K
Zhu
Wu-Nan
WN
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D018988:Bacterial Translocation / Q000187:drug effects; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D020117:Cisapride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D004731:Endotoxins; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D020117:Cisapride