Intestinal permeability induced by lipopolysaccharide and measured by lactulose,rhamnose and mannitol sugars in chickens

Increased intestinal permeability (IP) can lead to compromised health. Limited in vivo IP research has been conducted in chickens. The objectives of the current study were to develop a model of increased IP utilizing lipopolysaccharide (LPS Escherichia coli O55:B5) and to evaluate IP changes using the lactulose, mannitol and rhamnose (LMR) sugar permeability test. In addition, fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-d), d-lactate, zonula occludens (ZO-1) and diamine oxidase (DAO) permeability tests were employed. Male Ross chickens were reared until day 14 on the floor in an animal care facility and then transferred to individual cages in three separate experiments. In each of experiments 1 and 2, 36 chicks were randomly allocated to receive either saline (control) or LPS (n=18/group). Lactulose, mannitol and rhamnose sugar concentration in blood was measured at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 min in experiment 1, at 60, 90 and 120 min in experiment 2 and at 90 min in experiment 3 (n=16/group). Lipopolysaccharide was injected intraperitoneally at doses of 0.5, 1 and 1 mg/kg BW in experiments 1, 2 and 3, respectively, on days 16, 18 and 20, whereas control received sterile saline. On day 21, only birds in experiments 1 and 2 were fasted for 19.5 h. Chicks were orally gavaged with the LMR sugars (0.25 gL, 0.05 gM, 0.05 gR/bird) followed by blood collection (from the brachial vein) as per time point for each experiment. Only in experiment 3, were birds given an additional oral gavage of FITC-d (2.2 mg/ml per bird) 60 min after the first gavage. Plasma d-lactate, ZO-1 and DAO concentrations were also determined by ELISA in experiment 3 (n=10). Administration of LPS did not affect IP as measured by the LMR sugar test compared with control. This was also confirmed by FITC-d and DAO levels in experiment 3 (P>0.05). The plasma levels of d-lactate were decreased (P<0.05). Plasma levels of ZO-1 were increased in the third experiment only and did not change in the first two experiments. Lipopolysaccharide at doses of 0.5 and 1 mg/kg did not increase IP in this model system. In conclusion, the LMR sugar can be detected in blood 90 min after the oral gavage. Further studies are needed for the applicability of LMR sugars tests.     

Erythrocyte CuZn superoxide dismutase activity is decreased in iron-deficiency anemia

Iron and copper and essential microminerals that are intimately related. The present study was performed to determine the effect of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) and treatment with iron on laboratory indicators of copper status. Hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume erythrocyte Zn protoporphyrin, serum ferritin, serum copper, serum ceruloplasmin, and erythrocyte CuZn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were studied in 12 adult women with IDA before and after iron treatment for 60–90 d (100 mg/d Fe, as ferric polymaltose) and in 27 women with normal iron status. Prior to treatment with iron, serum copper and ceruloplasmin were not different between the groups and treatment with iron did not affect these measures. IDA women, before and after treatment with iron, presented a 2.9- and 2-fold decrease in erythrocyte CuZn-SOD activity compared to women with normal iron status (p <0.001). Treatment with iron increased erythrocyte CuZn-SOD activity of the IDA group; however, this change was not statistically significant. in conclusion, CuZn-SOD activity is decreased in IDA. Measurement of this enzyme activity is not useful for evaluating copper nutrition in iron-deficient subjects.     

Dietary chromium deficiency effect on sperm count and fertility in rats

Male rats raised on a low chromium diet containing less than 100 ppb chromium had decreased sperm counts and decreased fertility at age 8 months compared to the Cr-supplemented controls. Decreased sperm cell production and fertility were not apparent at age 4 months. At age 7–8 months the frequency of conception was 25 percent or less and the sperm count of the low chromium males was approximately 50 percent of that of the Cr-supplemented rats.     

柔肝固肠方改善慢性酒精性肝损伤大鼠肠道通透性的机制研究

目的：从肠道紧密连接及黏附连接角度探讨柔肝固肠方改善慢性酒精性肝损伤大鼠肠道通透性的作用机制。方法：Lieber-DeCarli酒精液体饲料饲养6周诱导大鼠慢性酒精性肝损伤模型。30只SD雄性大鼠,随机分无酒精液体饲料对照组（对照组,n＝10）和酒精液体饲料造模组（n＝20）,造模第4周将造模组大鼠随机分模型组（n＝10）,柔肝固肠方组（n＝10）,并开始灌胃给柔肝固肠方或蒸馏水直至6周末,取材前3．5 h各组以10 mg／kg的内毒素（LPS）灌胃。取材后检测：1）血清AST、ALT活性变化;2）通过门脉血浆内毒素含量测定判断小肠通透性变化;3）小肠组织电镜超微结构观察;4）小肠紧密连接蛋白ZO-1、Occludin蛋白与mRNA表达变化;5）小肠黏附连接蛋白β-Catenin和E-Cadherin蛋白表达。结果：1）柔肝固肠方可显著降低模型大鼠显著升高的AST水平（P＜0．05）;2）柔肝固肠方可降低模型大鼠显著升高的小肠通透性,柔肝固肠方组血浆内毒素含量显著低于模型组;3）电镜结果显示柔肝固肠方可显著改善Lieber-DeCarli酒精饲料喂养大鼠小肠黏膜表面微绒毛局灶性减少、变短、稀疏,排列不规则,同微绒毛相连的细胞终末网变性模糊等病理改变;4）柔肝固肠方可显著升高酒精饲料喂养肝损伤大鼠小肠组织紧密连接蛋白ZO-1、Occludin蛋白与mRNA表达及黏附连接蛋白β-Catenin和E-Cadherin蛋白表达。结论：柔肝固肠方通过改善肠上皮紧密连接及黏附连接改善慢性酒精性肝损伤大鼠肠道通透性改变。     

Increased permeability of gut mucosa in rats infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis.

The permeability of the gut mucosa to macromolecules has been examined in 4 different strains of rats infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (N. brasiliensis). There is a marked increase in mucosal permeability during the infection. In addition, a considerable strain difference is observed in both worm burden kinetics and the kinetics of intestinal permeability. The dose-response and drug treatment experiments in outbred Wistar rats suggest that increased mueosal permeability is a function of the worm burden. However, the increased permeability is related neither to the rapid phase of worm expulsion nor to the rise in intestinal mast cell numbers.     

幼年大鼠脾虚腹泻合并肠道菌群失调模型的建立

目的 建立一种脾虚腹泻合并肠道菌群失调的模型,为研究中医药治疗小儿脾虚腹泻证的疗效机制提供可行性模型。方法 按照随机的原则将20只清洁级3周龄SD幼年大鼠分为正常和模型两组,采用番泻叶、生大黄联合头孢拉定、硫酸庆大霉素灌胃,观察其对幼年SD大鼠外观、体质量、肠道微生物和小肠黏膜的影响。结果 与正常组相比,模型组幼年大鼠被毛枯槁、精神萎靡,体质量增长缓慢;4种琼脂培养基培养的肠球菌、大肠埃希菌、细菌、乳酸菌数量差异均有统计学意义（Ps＜0.01）;小肠黏膜层次模糊,结构混乱,小肠绒毛形态破坏。结论 番泻叶、生大黄联合头孢拉定、硫酸庆大霉素灌胃能够建立一种合适的幼年大鼠脾虚腹泻合并肠道菌群失调的模型。     

Iron accumulation in tissues of magnesium-deficient rats with dietary iron overload

The mineral imbalances in magnesium-deficient rats with dietary iron overload were studied. Forty-four male Wister rats were divided into six groups and fed six diets, two by three, fully crossed: magnesium adequate or deficient, and iron deficient, adequate, or excess. The concentrations of iron, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus in tissues of the rats were measured. The results were as follows: (1) The excess iron intake reinforced the iron accumulation in liver and spleen of magnesium deficient rats; (2) The saturation of iron binding capacity was enormously elevated in the magnesium deficient rats fed excess iron; and (3) Dietary iron deprivation diminished the degree of calcium deposition in kidney of magnesium deficient rats. These results suggest that magnesium-deprived-rats have abnormal iron metabolism losing homeostatic regulation of plasma iron, and magnesium deficient rats with dietary iron overload may be used as an experimental hemochromatosis model.     

儿童重症手足口病肠道菌群和肠道黏膜通透性的研究进展

手足口病是由肠道病毒引起的儿童常见的传染病,有研究显示肠道病毒进人消化道后在肠黏膜内复制繁殖并持续释放到血液而发病,肠道黏膜是病毒人侵和增殖的主要场所。肠道菌群能防御感染和增强肠道屏障功能,肠道屏障功能在防御外源性和内源性感染方面发挥重要作用,同时在维持肠道免疫稳定和平衡方面也有重要的作用。益生菌是指数量适当时对宿主健康有利的活微生物,有研究报道益生菌在辅助治疗手足口病上是有效的。开展这方面的研究,对于探索手足口病的发病机制和益生菌防治手足口病有十分重要的意义。     

Effect of iron supplementation on oxidative stress and antioxidant status in iron-deficiency anemia

This study was designed to measure the effect of iron supplementation on antioxidant status in iron-deficient anemia, including the time for hemoglobin normalization and at the time of filling of iron body stores. The extent of plasma lipid peroxidation was evaluated by measuring the levels of malondialdehyde and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in 63 patients with iron-deficiency anemia before and after 6 wk of iron supplementation and at the time when body iron stores are saturated. After 6 wk of iron supplementation, a significant decrease of oxidative stress was observed in the treated subjects relative to controls (p<0.05). No significant differences existed between treated patients at 6 wk and at the end of the study. The erythrocyte levels of catalase, SOD, and GSH-Px were significantly lower in treated patients relative to controls (p<0.05). These levels increased after 6 wk of supplementation (p<0.05) and showed no significant differences with those at the end of the study.     

Serum levels of trace elements and iron-deficiency anemia in adult Vietnamese

This study was aimed at assessing the serum levels of vitamin A, copper, zinc, selenium, and iron among adult Vietnamese with and without iron-deficiency anemia. Blood was collected from adult Vietnamese living in the midland of northern Vietnam. One hundred twenty-three subjects in the age range 20–60 yr were included in the study. Anemia, where the concentration of hemoglobin in whole blood is less than 120 g/L in females and 130 g/L in males, was found in 30% (37/123) of the study population. The levels of vitamin A and selenium in the sera of anemic subjects (n=37) were significantly lower than that in nonanemic group (n=86). On the other hand, no significant differences were observed in the concentrations of copper and zinc between the two groups. This study was the first to show serum levels of trace elements in adult Vietnamese, providing useful baseline information for further studies.     

Serum and hair levels of zinc, selenium, iron, and copper in children with iron-deficiency anemia

In the present study, the serum and hair levels of zinc, selenium, and copper were determined in children with iron-deficiency anemia (IDA). A total of 52 anemic children aged 1–4 yr constituted the study group. Fortysix healthy children acted as controls. The copper and zinc levels were measured with an atomic absorption spectrophometer. Serum and hair selenium was determined by a spectroflourometric method. The serum zinc and selenium concentrations in the IDA group were found to be significantly lower and serum copper significantly higher than those in the controls (p<0.05). Lower iron, zinc, and selenium concentrations (p<0.001) but not copper were found in hair (p>0.05).     

四君子汤对实验性脾虚小鼠肠道菌群的影响

本文报道了四君子汤对脾虚小鼠肠道内与人类关系密切的主要菌群的影响。用大量大黄水煎液灌胃给予小鼠,造成实验性脾虚模型,引起小鼠肠道内菌群紊乱,其中双歧杆菌、乳杆菌菌量均下降,与对照组小鼠相比具有显著性差异。当小鼠服用四君子汤后,双歧杆菌,乳杆菌均上升至正常值水平。四君子汤对拟杆菌数量也有一定的影响。本研究表明,四君子汤对小鼠肠道菌群的失调具有调节功能,对脾虚小鼠的康复具有一定的促进作用。     

Effects of zinc and/or iron deficiency on rectal temperature in rats

O'Dell et al. reported that rectal temperature was decreased by zinc deficiency in rats. However, it is not known whether a combined deficiency of zinc and iron affects rectal temperature. Forty 4-wk-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into four dietary treatment groups of 10 rats each for the 4-wk study: zinc-deficient group (4.5 mg Zn and 35 mg Fe/kg diet; −Zn), iron-deficient group (30 mg Zn/kg diet, no supplemental iron; −Fe), zinc/iron-deficient group (4.5 mg Zn/kg diet, no supplemental iron; −Zn−Fe), and control group (AIN-93G; Cont). At d 24–27, the rectal temperature was determined. The rectal temperature of the −Zn group was significantly lower than the Cont group. The rectal temperature of the −Zn−Fe group was similar to that of the Cont group, although thyroid-stimulating hormone and total thyroxin concentrations were the lowest in the −Zn−Fe group among all groups. The pattern of the plasma nitrate/nitrite concentrations across groups was similar to rectal temperature. Although observation of the rectal temperature is not conclusive, the balance between zinc and iron intake seems to determine the body temperature set point. These results suggest that the thermogenic effect of thyroid hormones is not throught to influence the paradoxical maintenance of rectal temperature in combined deficiency of zinc and iron.     

Studies on intestinal permeability of cirrhotic patients by analysis lactulose and mannitol in urine with HPLC/RID/MS

The method for separation and determination of lactulose (L) and mannitol (M) in urine was developed by HPLC with a refractive index detector (RID). The linearity ranged from 5 to 1000 microg/mL for L and M, respectively. Recoveries ranged from 93.1% to 97.1%. The intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations of peak area were between 0.8-1.4% (n=3) and 1.4-3.6% (n=3). The limits of detection were obtained with 1.40 microg/mL for L and 1.65 microg/mL for M. The ratios of L/M in the urine samples for the spontaneous ascitic fluid infection (SAI), sterile ascitic fluid (SA) patients, and healthy volunteers (HV) were determined. The results showed well the correlations among the L/M ratio, intestinal permeability (IP) and the illness status of patients, and also indicated lactulose could improve the IP of SAI patients. The peaks of L and M in chromatograms were identified by electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry (ESI/MS), which ensured the accurate measurement of the ratio L/M. This method presented a rapid, accurate, and practical technique for determining IP in clinical practice and investigating the pathology of hepatocirrhosis.     

Intestinal iron absorption in chickens

Intestinal iron absorption in chickens was studied in vivo, using an intestinal perfusion technique in closed circuit. The results obtained show that iron absorption, at 30 min intervals, is a linear function of test solution iron concentrations of up to 776 μg Fe/20 mL. At higher concentrations, iron saturation occurs. The mucosal epithelial cells seem to be less a limiting factor than in rats. However, in chickens, the binding capacity of plasma might play an important role in the regulation of iron absorption. Iron absorption versus time was analyzed in 15, 30, 60, and 120 min periods for the iron concentration of 14 μg Fe/20 mL. Intestinal iron absorption showed a linear relationship between these two parameters. A period of perfusion of either 30 or 60 min by a solution of 14 μg Fe/20 mL appears suitable since no interference by a saturation process can then occur.     

双歧杆菌三联活菌散对儿童轮状病毒性肠炎患者肠道菌群及肠黏膜通透性的影响

目的 观察双歧杆菌三联活菌散对儿童轮状病毒性肠炎（RVE）患者肠道菌群和肠黏膜通透性的影响。方法 选择2016年1月至2017年8月于丽水市中心医院儿科门诊治疗的RVE患儿94例,随机分为观察组和对照组各47例。两组患儿均予饮食调整、补液及纠正电解质紊乱和酸碱失衡等治疗。观察组患儿加用双歧杆菌三联活菌散1.0 g/次,3次/d,温水冲服。观察两组患儿治疗前后肠道菌群（双歧杆菌、乳杆菌和大肠埃希菌）数量和肠黏膜通透性指标[内毒素（ETX）和D-乳酸]的变化,并比较其临床疗效。结果 治疗72 h后,观察组患儿双歧杆菌和乳杆菌数量明显上升,大肠埃希菌数量明显下降（P0.05）。治疗后观察组患儿双歧杆菌、乳杆菌数量较对照组更高,大肠埃希菌数量较对照组更低（P<0.05）。两组患儿治疗后血清ETX和D-乳酸水平均明显下降（P<0.05）,且观察组下降幅度更大（P<0.05）;同时观察组患儿总有效率高于对照组（χ2=4.11,P<0.05）。结论 双歧杆菌三联活菌散治疗儿童RVE的疗效确切,其作用机制可能与其能增加双歧杆菌和乳杆菌等有益菌的数量,减少大肠埃希菌等致病菌的数量,改善患儿肠道微生态状况;并与其能降低肠黏膜通透性和减少肠液的分泌渗出相关。     

High-dose tranilast administration to rats creates interstitial cystitis-like symptoms with increased vascular permeability

Aim

We investigated whether the high-dose administration of tranilast could be used to create an animal model of interstitial cystitis (IC). Then, we used this model to assess the relationship between IC and changes in the vascular permeability of the bladder.

Main methods

Female rats were divided into the following 4 groups: a control group, a tranilast group, a carbazochrome group and a combination (tranilast + carbazochrome) group. Continuous cystometry, bladder distension, and the Evans blue dye extravasation test were performed 4 weeks after drug administration. Locomotor activity, the plasma TGF-β1 level, and collagen fibers in the bladder wall were also examined in the control and tranilast groups.

Key findings

The interval between bladder contractions was shorter and the leakage of Evans blue dye into the bladder wall was greater in the tranilast group than in the control group. Glomerulations of the bladder wall after bladder distention and thinning of the collagen fiber layer in the bladder were observed in the tranilast group. Locomotor activity in darkness and the plasma TGF-β1 level were both lower in the tranilast group than in the control group. In the combination group, the leakage of Evans blue dye was greater than in the control group; however, it was less prominent than in the tranilast group.

Significance

These results suggest that high-dose administration of tranilast to rats can create an IC-like rat model and that an increase in the vascular permeability of the bladder wall may be one cause of IC symptoms.     

True absorption and endogenous fecal excretion of manganese in relation to its dietary supply in growing rats

A conventional balance study with 48 male weanling rats was conducted to determine true absorption and endogenous fecal excretion of manganese (Mn) in relation to dietary Mn supply, following the procedures of a previously adapted isotope dilution technique. After 10 d on a diet with 1.5 ppm Mn, eight animals each were assigned to diets containing 1.5, 4.5, 11.2, 35, 65, or 100 ppm Mn on a dry-matter basis. Three days later, each rat was given an intramuscular⁵⁴Mn injection and kept on treatment for a balance period of 16 d. Apparent Mn absorption assessed for the final 8 d, averaged 8.6 μg/d without significant treatment effects, although Mn intake ranged from 18.6 to 1200 μg/d, in direct relation to dietary Mn concentrations. Mean fecal excretion of endogenous Mn for the six treatments was 0.9, 2.7, 7.4, 11.0, 16.3, and 17.7 μg/d, respectively. These values delineate the rates to which true absorption exceeded apparent rates. True absorption, as percent of Mn intake, averaged 28.7, 15.9, 11.7, 6.1, 3.4, and 2.0, respectively, as compared with mean values of 23.9, 10.9, 6.2, 3.4, 1.2, and 0.5 for percent apparent absorption. It was concluded that both true absorption and endogenous fecal excretion markedly responded to Mn nutrition and that the reduction in the efficiency of true absorption was quantitatively the most significant homeostatic response for maintaining stable Mn concentrations in body tissues.