Tracking of green fluorescent protein labeled Escherichia coli confirms bacterial translocation in blind loop rat

Abstract

Background: Previous investigators have documented small intestinal mucosal injury in blind loop rats. However, the definitive evidence of intestinal bacterial translocation in blind loop animals has been lacking. The purpose of this study was to confirm bacterial translocation in blind loop rats and to evaluate the preventive effect of glutamine on bacterial translocation caused by blind loops.

Materials and methods: Escherichia coli TG1 labeled with green fluorescent protein was used to track bacterial translocation by gavage to rats. Six groups (n = 10) of rats were studied: unoperated control rats; rats with self-emptying blind loop; rats with self-filling blind loop; unoperated control rats treated with glutamine, 400 mg/d; rats with self-emptying blind loop treated with glutamine, 400 mg/d; rats with self-filling blind loop treated with glutamine, 400 mg/d. Representative tissue specimens of the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen, and kidney were aseptically harvested for bacteria culture.

Results: Bacteria were detected in extraintestinal organs of rats with self-emptying blind loop, self-filling blind loop, and self-filling blind loop treated with glutamine. By fluorescence microscope and XbaI restriction digestion analysis, we elucidated that the bacteria isolated from extraintestinal organs were the same bacteria we gavaged to the rats.

Conclusion: We confirmed bacterial translocation in self-filling blind loop and self-emptying blind loop rats. In addition, we also showed that glutamine prevents bacterial translocation in self-emptying blind loop rats.