title: Investigation of bacterial translocation in chronic ischemic heart failure in the rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased markers of systemic inflammation had been found in patients with acute heart failure. These and other findings led to the hypothesis of an increased rate of bacterial translocation in severe or acute heart failure, leading to systemic inflammation. The present study examined if bacterial translocation occurs under physiological conditions in rats and if its rate and spectrum changes in chronic compensated ischemic heart failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Myocardial infarction (MI) was induced by proximal ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery or a sham operation was performed. Rats were followed up for six months and mesenteric lymph nodes of the surviving animals with large MI were excised and bacterial translocation was quantified by cultivating viable bacteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Induction of a large MI led to a significant cardiac remodelling, elevated levels of atrial natriuretic peptide, and pulmonary oedema. There was no difference in the spectrum or in the rate of bacterial translocation compared with controls, neither comparing all cultured bacteria nor predefined subgroups (e.g., intestinal bacteria).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bacterial translocation is a physiological process with no gradual increase in chronic compensated heart failure in rats.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Betge
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Stingl
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Pfister
authors: Hans-Reiner
authors: HR
authors: Figulla
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Jung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018988:Bacterial Translocation; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011897:Random Allocation; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling
chemical_list: C491766:Ccl2 protein, rat; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D015850:Interleukin-6