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


METHODS
25 normal control rats, 25 cirrhotic rats, 20 cirrhotic rats received saline, and 20 cirrhotic rats treated with cisapride were included in the study. All animals were assessed with many variables including bacterial and endotoxin translocation, IBO, intestinal transit and permeability.


RESULTS
Bacterial translocation was found in 48%(12/25) cirrhotic rats and none of control rats. Among the 20 rats with IBO, there were 11 rats with bacterial translocation (BT) while only one rats occurred BT out of the 5 rats without IBO. Cirrhotic rats with IBO had a significantly higher rate of endotoxin translocation, higher intestinal permeability and longer intestinal transit than those without IBO. BT of a specific organism was always associated with IBO of that organism. Compared with the placebo group, cisapride-treated rats had lower rates of bacterial and endotoxin translocation and IBO, which had close relationship with shorter intestinal transit and lower permeability.


CONCLUSIONS
Endotoxin and bacterial translocation in cirrhotic rats may be the result of IBO and higher permeability. IBO may be the result of longer transit. Cisapride which can accelerate intestinal transit and improve intestinal permeability is helpful in preventing and treating intestinal bacterial and endotoxin translocation.
Zhang
Shun-cai
SC
Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Wang
Wei
W
Ren
Wei-ying
WY
Zhou
Kang
K
He
Bo-ming
BM
Zhu
Wu-nan
WN
D000818:Animals; D018988:Bacterial Translocation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001692:Biological Transport; D020117:Cisapride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D010539:Permeability; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D004731:Endotoxins; D020117:Cisapride