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Increased intestinal marker absorption due to regional permeability changes and decreased intestinal transit during
Q Wang1, N Pantzar, B Jeppsson
1Dept. of Animal Physiology, Lund University, Sweden.
Background:
The intestinal barrier properties are impaired during inflammation and sepsis, but the mechanisms behind this are unknown and were therefore investigated during experimental sepsis in rats.
Methods:
The different-sized intestinal absorption markers 51Cr-labeled ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and ovalbumin were gavaged to rats made septic by intra-abdominal bacterial implantation and to sham-operated rats. Regional tissue permeability was measured in diffusion chambers, and intestinal transit was evaluated by intestinal accumulation of gavaged 51Cr-EDTA.
Results:
In comparison with the sham-operated rats, septic rats had higher 51Cr-EDTA levels in blood and urine and showed a prolonged intestinal transit. Septic rats also had a lower tissue permeability to both markers in the small intestines but higher permeability to ovalbumin in the colon. Rats receiving morphine to decrease intestinal motility showed similar changes, with a decreased intestinal transit and increased marker absorption.
Conclusions:
The results suggest that the increased intestinal absorption during sepsis was due to regional permeability changes and prolonged intestinal transit.