The effects of Gingko biloba, vitamin E and melatonin on bacterial translocation in thioacetamide-induced fulminant hepatic failure in rats.
OBJECTIVE
Bacterial translocation (BT) has been implicated in the development of infectious complications in many serious clinical conditions such as fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). We aimed to investigate the effects of Gingko biloba (GB), vitamin E (Vit E) and melatonin on intestinal oxidative damage and BT in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced FHF in rats.


METHODS
A total of 42 rats were divided into five groups. Group 1 (n = 8) was the control group. Group 2 (n = 10) was the TAA group, in which rats received 350 mg/kg TAA daily by the intraperitoneal (ip) route for 3 days. Oral 100 mg/kg GB per day was administered to group 3 (n = 8), oral 200 mg/kg Vit E per day to group 4 (n = 8) and ip 3 mg/kg melatonin per day to group 5 (n = 8) 48 h prior to the first TAA injection and was continued for 5 consecutive days.


RESULTS
When compared with the control group, serious hepatic and intestinal oxidative damage, increased Escherichia coli counts in ileal aspirates and high BT frequencies were observed in the TAA group (all p < 0.0001). Only GB treatment attenuated hepatic oxidative damage (p < 0.0001). There was no difference in intestinal oxidative damage, E. coli counts in ileal aspirates and BT frequency between TAA and the other antioxidant treatment groups (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that intestinal oxidative damage plays a major role in the development of BT by disrupting the barrier function of intestinal mucosa.
Harputluoglu
M M M
MM
Inonu University Medical Faculty, Department of Gastroenterology, 44069 Malatya, Turkey. mharputluoglu@hotmail.com
Demirel
U
U
Karadag
N
N
Temel
I
I
Bayraktar
M
M
Firat
S
S
Karahan
D
D
Aladag
M
M
Alan
H
H
Ates
F
F
Karincaoglu
M
M
Hilmioglu
F
F
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018988:Bacterial Translocation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology*; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008643:Mesentery; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D013853:Thioacetamide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D028321:Plant Preparations; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D013853:Thioacetamide; D014810:Vitamin E; D008550:Melatonin