Protection by aminated glucan in experimental endogenous peritonitis

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Peritonitis, a serious abdominal infection, leads to high mortality and complications like adhesions and abscesses.
• Current treatments may not fully prevent adverse outcomes, necessitating novel prophylactic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of intraperitoneal aminated glucan as a prophylactic agent against peritonitis in a rat model.
• To assess its impact on survival rates, abscess formation, and peritoneal adhesions.

Main Methods:

• Rats with experimentally induced acute (cecal perforation) and subacute (ileal ligation) peritonitis were pretreated with aminated glucan.
• Survival rates, abscesses, and adhesions were quantified.
• In vitro studies assessed macrophage phagocytosis and bacterial degradation using 32P-labelled Escherichia coli.
• Scanning electron microscopy visualized macrophage-host interactions.

Main Results:

• Aminated glucan significantly reduced mortality in both acute and subacute peritonitis models.
• A significant decrease in abscess and adhesion formation was observed in treated rats.
• Peritoneal macrophage counts increased threefold in aminated glucan-treated rats.
• Macrophages from treated rats demonstrated enhanced bacterial engulfment and degradation in vitro, with improved cellular morphology for bacterial clearance.

Conclusions:

• Intraperitoneal aminated glucan exhibits significant prophylactic benefits in experimental peritonitis.
• It enhances macrophage function, leading to improved bacterial clearance and reduced mortality, abscesses, and adhesions.