[Total colectomy in the rat : its metabolic and functional consequences]

A number of total colectomies with end-to-end ileo-rectal anastomosis was performed in the inbred Lister rat. The following data were studied: survival rate, body weight curves, variations of appetite, thirst and diuresis, daily weight and electrolytes content of feces, intestinal transit time, histology of terminal ileum, rectum, liver and kidney. After an initial lose of body weight, rats gained their original weight at about two months after colectomy; at this time a syndrome was observed caracterized by anemia, leucocitosis with neutrophilia, ipoproteinemia, remarkable increase of thirst (up to 400%) and of water and sodium content of feces; appetite and diuresis were normal; intestinal transit tice was slightly reduced. Histologically there was a "coloni" transformation of the terminal ileum and vacuolization of the proximal renal tubules.