Intestinal bacterial overgrowth and bacterial translocation in cirrhotic rats with ascites

doi:10.1016/S0168-8278(97)80474-6

Journal of Hepatology

Volume 26, Issue 6, July 1997, Pages 1372-1378

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-8278(97)80474-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

Background/Aims: Translocation of indigenous bacterial from the gut lumen of cirrhotic animals to mesenteric lymph nodes appears to be an important step in the pathogenesis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. However, the sequence of events leading to translocation remains unclear. One of the most predictable risk factors for translocation is overgrowth of gut bacterial flora. The present study was designed to compare the intestinal aerobic bacterial flora of cecal stools at the time of sacrifice between cirrhotic and normal rats and to evaluate the role of intestinal aerobic bacterial overgrowth in bacterial translocation in cirrhotic rats.

Methods: Thirty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhosis and ascites and 10 normal rats were included in this study. Cirrhotic rats were sacrificed when ill and samples of ascitic fluid, mesenteric lymph nodes and cecal stool were taken for detecting quantitatively aerobic bacteria.

Results: Total intestinal aerobic bacterial count in cecal stool at the time of sacrifice was significantly increased in cirrhotic rats with bacterial translocation with or without spontaneous bacterial peritonitis compared to cirrhotic rats without bacterial translocation (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively) and to normal rats (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Of the 42 species of bacteria translocating to the mesenteric lymph nodes, 41 (97.6%) were found in supranormal numbers in the stool at the time of sacrifice.

Conclusions: Carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhotic rats with bacterial translocation have increased total intestinal aerobic bacteria count, and intestinal bacterial overgrowth appears to play an important role in bacterial translocation in this experimental model of cirrhosis in rats.

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Intestinal bacterial overgrowth and bacterial translocation in cirrhotic rats with ascites

Abstract

J Hepatol

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology

Hepatology

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology

Disease-a-Month

J Hepatol

Am J Surg

Bacterial translocation from the gastrointestinal tract

J Med

Bacterial translocation in cirrhotic rats. Its role in the development of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Gut

The prevalence of gut translocation in humans

Gastroenterology

Reticuloendothelial system phagocytic activity in cirrhosis and its relation to bacterial infections and prognosis

Hepatology

Patients with deficient ascitic fluid opsonic activity are predisposed to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Hepatology

Abnormalities of neutrophil phagocytosis, intracellular killing, and metabolic activity in alcoholic cirrhosis and hepatitis

Hepatology

Gastrointestinal edema in cirrhotics

Gastrointest Radiol

Water and electrolyte movement and mucosal morphology in the jejunum of patients with portal hypertension

Gastroenterology

Bacterial translocation in acute and chronic portal hypertension

Hepatology

Endotoxin-induced bacterial translocation: a study of mechanisms

Surgery

Endotoxin-induced bacterial translocation and mucosal permeability: role of xanthine oxidase, complement activation, and macrophage products

Crit Care Med

The contribution of endotoxin to mortality in hosts with compromised resistance: A review

Exp Hematol