Increased gut absorptive capacity in rats with severe head injury after feeding with probiotics

The absorptive capacity of the gut is decreased after severe head injury (SHI), and this may be related to poor recovery. Probiotics may be a promising approach to improving gut absorption. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of probiotics on gut absorptive capacity (GAC) after SHI.

A rat model in which SHI was induced by air percussion was used. One hundred fourteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three groups: SHI followed by standard enteral nutrition (group A); SHI followed by standard enteral nutrition plus probiotics (group B); and standard chow diet ad libitum (group C, sham-operated). The enteral diets were infused for 14 d after SHI.

SHI induced weight loss and decreased the serum concentration of D-xylose and the apparent protein digestibility. Probiotics significantly improved GAC after SHI. Apparent protein digestibility and the concentration of D-xylose were lower in group A than in B or C after 14 d. The rats receiving probiotics showed less weight loss than group A. SHI induced intestinal flora dysfunction and a decrease in villus height and surface area. Digestive enzyme activities and gut motion were also depressed significantly, and these changes were closely related to the decrease in GAC. Probiotics increased villus height and surface area; Escherichia coli counts decreased significantly, and anaerobic counts increased.

Probiotics improve the GAC after SHI, perhaps because of enhanced villus surface area, and correction of intestinal flora dysfunction.