Influence of bilateral nephrectomy on selected gastrointestinal bacteria in the rat

A series of experiments was designed to investigate the influence of acute renal failure on selected gastrointestinal bacteria. Sprague-Dawley male rats were bilaterally nephrectomized to induce acute renal failure, with sham-operated animals serving as controls. After 48 h animals were sacrificed and the stomachs, upper and lower small intestines, ceca, and colons were excised and subjected to microbial analyses. Lactobacilli and streptococci including enterococci, were 1-2 log counts higher in the stomachs of anephric rats than those of sham-operated controls; lactobacilli were increased similarly in the upper small intestines of these animals. Coliforms including Escherichia coli, and Proteus were 1-2 log counts higher in the lower small intestine of anephric rats than those of sham-operated rats. The decreased gastric pH, increased cecal pH, hypothermia, and delayed gastric emptying observed in nephrectomized rats could partly explain the different microfloras in these animals.