title: Yoghurts containing probiotics reduce disruption of the small intestinal barrier in methotrexate-treated rats.
abstract: Small intestinal permeability was employed to assess the efficacy of commercially available yoghurts containing probiotics in a rat model of methotrexate (MTX)-induced mucositis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to four groups (n = 8): MTX + water, MTX + cow's milk yoghurt (CY; fermented with Lactobacillus johnsonii), MTX + sheep's milk yoghurt (SY; containing Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus), and saline. Treatment gavage occurred twice daily for 7 days pre-MTX and 5 days post-MTX. Intestinal permeability was assessed on days -7, -1, 2, and 5 of the trial. Intestinal sections were collected at sacrifice for histological and biochemical analyses. Histology revealed that rats receiving CY and SY did not have a significantly damaged duodenum compared to controls. However, an improved small intestinal barrier function was evident, determined by a decreased lactulose/mannitol ratio. Probiotics containing SY and CY may be useful in preventing disruption to intestinal barrier function in MTX-induced mucositis.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Gastroenterology, Women's and Children's Hospital, Children, Youth and Women's Health Service, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Southcott
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Tooley
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Howarth
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Butler
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D018988:Bacterial Translocation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D007778:Lactobacillus; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000633:toxicity; D052016:Mucositis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D010539:Permeability; D019936:Probiotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D048249:Streptococcus thermophilus; D015014:Yogurt / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D008727:Methotrexate