Intestinal microflora in rats with ischemia/reperfusion liver injury.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the intestinal microflora status related to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) liver injury and explore the possible mechanism.


METHODS
Specific pathogen free grade Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three groups: Control group (n=8), sham group (n=6) and I/R group (n=10). Rats in the control group did not receive any treatment, rats in the I/R group were subjected to 20 min of liver ischemia, and rats in the sham group were only subjected to sham operation. Twenty-two hours later, the rats were sacrificed and liver enzymes and malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), serum endotoxin, intestinal bacterial count, intestinal mucosal histology, bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen, and kidney were studied.


RESULTS
Ischemia/reperfusion increased liver enzymes, MDA, decreased SOD, and was associated with plasma endotoxin elevation in I/R group compared to those in the sham group. Intestinal Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus decreased and intestinal Enterobacteria and Enterococci, bacterial translocation to kidney increased in the I/R group compared to the sham group. Intestinal microvilli were lost, disrupted and the interspace between cells became wider in the I/R group.


CONCLUSIONS
I/R liver injury may lead to disturbance of intestinal microflora and impairment of intestinal mucosal barrier function, which contributes to endotoxemia and bacterial translocation to kidney.
Xing
Hui-chun
HC
Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease, Ministry of Public Health of China, Institute of Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Li
Lan-juan
LJ
Xu
Kai-jin
KJ
Shen
Tian
T
Chen
Yun-bo
YB
Sheng
Ji-fang
JF
Yu
Yun-song
YS
Chen
Ya-gang
YG
D000818:Animals; D018988:Bacterial Translocation; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*
D004731:Endotoxins; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase