BACKGROUND
The intestinal wall integrity is central to the barrier function and depends on the balance of proliferation/apoptosis. Short bowel (SB) or Parenteral Nutrition (PN) induce high bacterial translocation (BT) probably by the intestinal barrier bug. Probiotics or minimal enteral nutrition (MEN) have reduced BT in animal models.
OBJECTIVE
Determine in two BT animal models (SB or PN) the effect of MEN or probiotics on proliferation and apoptosis rates of the intestinal wall.
METHODS
Seventy-one Wistar rats, divided into 4 groups: 1) PN (N = 23): parenteral nutrition; 2) PNMEN (N = 16): PN + MEN (2.9 g/100 g/day standard diet); 3) RES (N = 15): 80% bowel resection and standard oral diet; 4) RESPROB (N = 17): RES + probiotics (7 X 10(9) CFU Bifidobacterium lactis). After 10 days in metabolic cages, mesenteryc lymph nodes, portal blood and peripheral blood were cultured. By immunohistochemistry, proliferation and apoptosis index were calculated as well as the proliferation-apoptosis rate.
RESULTS
BT: decreased in PNMEN (45%) and RESPROB groups (35%) versus PN (65%) and RES (67%) groups (p<0.05). Proliferation index: was better in PNMEN (12,07) and RESPROB (13,93) groups than PN (7,45) and RES (5,54) groups. (p</0.05). Apoptosis index: PNMEN group had 7,81 and PN group 14,90. (p<0,05). Proliferation-apoptosis rate: was higher in PNMEN (1,54) and RESPROB (1,67) groups than PN (0,50) ans RES (0,71) groups. (p<0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
MEN and probiotics reduce BT and improve cellular renewal by encouraging the proliferation. MEN also prevents apoptosis.