Extensive small gut resection in the rat. Microbiological studies with a strict anaerobic technique

The small intestinal microflora of the rat was examined 6 w after resection of the proximal half of the ileum. A comparison was made with animals where the ileum had only been transected and re-sutured. The study included a strict anaerobic culturing and an investigation of bacterial metabolites with a gas chromatography technique. In both groups the flora was found to be mainly facultative and there was no difference in the total number of bacteria. There was no difference between the groups or between the single animals in the proportional of aerobes-anaerobes. In spite of numerous adhesions between the ileal loops causing impaired intestinal motility and intraluminal stasis, there was no colonization of the small intestinal flora and the concentration of bacteria was too low to give a positive response for gas chromatography. It is stated that the low amount of intestinal bacterial flora is not likely to be a significant factor causing adaptive mucosal hyperplasia after gut resection.