Bacterial translocation in rats with hepatic cirrhosis and the interventional effect of betaine

Abstract:

[Objective] To study bacterial translocation of rats with hepatic cirrhosis, and to explore the interventional effect of betaine on bacterial translocation. [Methods] Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, two groups were normal control group (N group and NB group), and the other two were hepatic cirrhosis models (M group and MB group). In each condition, one group of rats was intragastrically administered with 1 000 mg/kg body weight betaine once daily for 4 weeks and 6 weeks (NB or MB group), whereas the other was treated with an equal volume water (N or M group). The rat model of hepatic cirrhosis was induced by multiple pathogenic factors. The injury of liver and small intestine was observed with HE stain. The organ indices were detected, and the bacterial translocation was assessed by standard microbiological techniques on blood, mesenteric lymph nodes, ascites, liver, spleen and kidney. [Results] The weight of M group was found to be significantly lower compared to N group (P=0, P<0.01), and the weight of MB group was picked up compared to M group, it was significantly higher at the end of 6 weeks (P=0.023, P<0.05). In M group to N group, the liver index (P=0, P<0.01) was significantly higher at the end of 4 weeks; the organ index of liver (P=0, P<0.01) and spleen (P=0.038, P<0.05) was significantly higher, and that of kidney (P=0.019, P<0.05) was significantly lower at the end of 6 weeks. And the organ index of liver (P=0.038, P<0.05) was fell back, that of kidney (P=0.011, P<0.05) was picked up in MB group to M group. The pathologic change of liver and small intestine was obvious in M group to N group, and it was reduced in MB group to M group. The bacterial translocation in M group was higher than that in N group, and it occurred mainly in MLN at the end of 4 weeks, in MLN and kidney at the end of 6 weeks; the bacterial translocation was lower in MB group than that in M group, especially in mesenteric lymph nodes (P=0.046, P<0.05). [Conclusion] The bacterial translocation occurs mainly in MLN and kidney, and it is mainly transferred by lymphatic vessels in rats with hepatic cirrhosis. With the progress of the course of cirrhosis, BT is more and more serious. Betaine can decrease the occurrence of bacterial translocation by the restoration of small intestine mucosal structure in some degree, and it has a protective effect on liver injury in rats with hepatic cirrhosis.