Protective role of lactobacilli inShigella dysenteriae1-induced diarrhea in rats

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Los Angeles County, Calif.), 2007-05, Vol.23 (5), p.424
• Main Authors: Moorthy, Guhapriya, Murali, Malliga Raman, Devaraj, S Niranjali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Antioxidants; Bacteria; Bacterial infections; Diarrhea; E coli; Free radicals; Immune system; Infections; Lipid peroxidation; Metabolites; Peroxidation; Probiotics; Rodents; Studies; Yogurt
• ISSN: 0899-9007; 1873-1244
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2007.03.003

Objective Studies on lactic acid bacteria exemplify their use against various enteropathogens in vitro. Nevertheless, in vivo effects ofLactobacillusduringShigellainfection have not been evaluated. The present study evaluated the effect ofLactobacillus rhamnosusandLactobacillus acidophiluson neutrophil infiltration and lipid peroxidation duringShigella dysenteriae1-induced diarrhea in rats. Methods The rats were divided into eight groups (n= 6 in each group). Induced rats received single oral dose ofS. dysenteriae(12 × 108colony-forming units /mL). Treated rats receivedL. rhamnosus(1 × 107cfu/mL) orL. acidophilus(1 × 107cfu/mL) orally for 4 d, alone or in combination, followed byShigellaadministration. At the end of the experimental period, animals were sacrificed and the assay of the activity of alkaline phosphatase, myeloperoxidase, and antioxidants and the estimation of lipid peroxides were performed. Activity staining of superoxide dismutase and catalase was done in addition to gelatin zymography for matrix metalloproteinase (MMP; MMP-2 and MMP-9) activity. A portion of the intestinal tissue was fixed in 10% formalin for histologic studies. Results Administration ofS. dysenteriae1 alone resulted in increased levels of myeloperoxidase, lipid peroxidation, alkaline phosphatase, and the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 with concomitant decrease in the antioxidant levels. Pretreatment with the combination ofL. rhamnosus(1 × 107cfu/mL) andL. acidophilus(1 × 107cfu/mL) significantly attenuated these changes when compared with the diseased group. Histologic observations were in correlation with biochemical parameters. Conclusion Lactobacillus rhamnosusplusL. acidophilusoffered better protection when compared with individual treatment with these strains duringShigellainfection.