Somatostatin: possible cause of bacterial translocation in obstructive jaundiced rats

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of endogenous somatostatin hormone on bacterial translocation in obstructive jaundiced rats. Five groups of rats were studied: group I (n = 10), non-operated group (control); group II (n = 10), sham-operated group which underwent laparotomy and dissection of portal elements, while the common bile duct was not ligated and somatostatin was not injected; group III (n = 10), same as group II, plus injection of somatostatin; group IV (n = 10), common bile duct was ligated with laparotomy but somatostatin was not injected; group V (n = 10), same as group IV, plus somatostatin injection. The blood was analyzed for somatostatin, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin levels on the third and tenth days in all animals. At study termination (tenth day), peritoneal swab and blood cultures were taken, and liver, spleen, lung, and mesenteric lymph nodes were harvested for microbiological studies. Bacterial translocation levels were higher in groups III, IV, and V when compared with levels in groups I and II. Similar translocation levels were obtained when blood somatostatin levels were comparable. However, the highest translocation rate was found in groups IV and V in which the blood somatostatin level was also higher when compared with that in other groups. This finding shows that blood somatostatin level is increased in obstructive jaundice. This may explain the bacterial translocation and related sepsis found in obstructive jaundice.