Study on bacterial translocation of intestine and endotoxin concen tration of plasma in obstructive jaundice

Abstract

AIM: To observe intestinal bacterial translocation and plasma endotoxin concentration in obstructive jaundice.

METHODS: Sixty Wistar rats with an average weight of 220-250 g were used in the experiments. The animals were randomized to undergo ligation and division of the common bile duct (CBD) or sham ligation. The Escherichia coli (O₅₅B₅) were labeled by fluorescein at a final concentration of (5 × 10⁶ cfu/L). Specimens of distal myenteric lympth nodes (MLN), liver, spleen were obtained on the 7^th postoperatived, blood was collected and endotoxin was measured.

RESULTS: There was a significant (P < 0.01) increase in mean (s.e.m) serum bilirubin and significant (P < 0.05) improvement on endotoxin concentration. There was no evidence of colonization in MLN, liver, spleen in control rats. In contrast, 20 of 30 CBD-ligated rats labeled E.coli in MIN was found in and damage of intestinal mucosa occurred in rats with experimental obstructive jaundice.

CONCLUSION: Bacterial translocation from gastrointestinal tract and endotoxin to the blood stream are central to current theories of sepsis. Our study suggests that the gut is a primary source of infection in obstructive jaundice.

Key Words: Jaundice, Endotoxin/blood, Bacterial translocation, Intestine/microbiology