Experimental Papers
Copyright ©The Author(s) 1996. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 15, 1996; 2(3): 125-127
Published online Sep 15, 1996. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v2.i3.125
Mucosal permeability to lipopolysaccharides in the colon in chronic alcoholic rats
Xian-Ming Chen, Rei-Ling Xu, Xiao-Hui Ma, Yuan-Chang Zhou, De-Wu Han
Xian-Ming Chen, Rei-Ling Xu, Xiao-Hui Ma, Yuan-Chang Zhou, De-Wu Han, Department of Pathopysiology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001 Shanxi Province, Chin
Xian-Ming Chen, male, born on 1964-04-21 in Chongyang City, Hubei Province, Han nationality, graduated from Shanxi Medical University as a postgraduate in 1988, associate professor of pathophysiology, major in hepatic pathophysiology, having 15 papers published.
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Natural Science Foundation for Youth of Shanxi Province No.93017, 95013.
Correspondence to: Dr. Xian-Ming Chen, Associate Professor, Department of Pathopysiology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001 Shanxi Province, China
Telephone: +86-351-4135067 Fax: +86-351-2024239
Received: July 21, 1996
Revised: August 14, 1996
Accepted: August 29, 1996
Published online: September 15, 1996
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the effects of chronic alcohol abuse on the mucosal permeability to lipopolysaccharide in the colon in rats.

METHODS: Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 20 μg/mL) was injected into the colon of chronic alcoholic rats (n = 10) and the rats were supplied with Lieber diets every other day for 6 weeks. Before LPS injection and 5, 10, 20, 30 min after injection, blood samples from the portal vein were obtained and contents of LPS in the blood were measured. The distribution of LPS in the colon tissues was observed with a confocal laser scanning microscope by immunofluorescent technique using a monoclonal antibody specific to the lipid A region of LPS. Normal rats were used as controls (n = 6).

RESULTS: Before LPS injection into the colon, LPS levels in the blood of portal vein of chronic alcoholic rats were significantly higher than those of normal controls (3.56 ± 0.67 pg/mLaa, vs 2.45 ± 0.15 pg/mLaa, P < 0.01). At 5, 10, 20, 30 min after injection of LPS, LPS contents were significantly higher than those before LPS injection (173.56 ± 23.45 pg/mLaa, 154.78 ± 20.57 pg/mLaa, 43.89 pg/mLaa ± 8.67 pg/mLaa, 45.38 ± 7.89 pg/mLaa vs 3.56 ± 0.67 pg/mLaa, P < 0.01 respectively). Most mucosal cells showed strong positive reactions to LPS in the rats of chronic alcohol abuse, but no significant changes of LPS contents in blood from the portal vein and fluorescentreactions to LPS in mucosal cells of normal rats were found after LPS injection.

CONCLUSION: Chronic alcohol abuse resulted in a significant increase of permeability to LPS in colon mucosal cells in rats.

Keywords: Colon; Alcohol; Ethyl polysaccharides; Bacterial; Escherichia coli