Stimulatory Effect of Lactobacillus Metabolites on Colonic Contractions in Newborn Rats

Microbiota are known to play an important role in gastrointestinal physiology and pathophysiology. Microbiota and their metabolites can affect gut motility, neural regulation and the enteric endocrine systems and immune systems of the gut. The use of fermented/hydrolyzed products may be a promising new avenue for stimulating gastrointestinal motility. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of lactobacillus metabolites (PP), produced using a U.S.-patented fermentation method, on rat colon motility in vitro. The distal colon was incised from newborn male Wistar rats. A sensitive tensometric method for the study of colon contractions was used. The [Ca2+]i in colon tissue was registered using a computerized ratiometric system for an intracellular ion content assay (Intracellular Imaging and Photometry System, Intracellular imaging, Inc. Cincinnati, OH, USA). The cumulative addition of PP induced contraction with sigmoid dose responses with ED50 = 0.13 ± 0.02% (n = 4), where 10% PP was accepted as a maximal dose. This contraction was accompanied by an increase in the concentration of [Ca2+]i. It was shown that introducing Lactobacillus metabolites produced using a U.S.-patented fermentation method quickly stimulates dose-dependent colon contractions and an increase in intracellular calcium. The direct application of PP via enema to the colon could stimulate colon motility and suppress pathogenic microbiota, owing to the antagonistic property of PP on pathogens.