Scintigraphic visualization of bacterial translocation in experimental strangulated intestinal obstruction

• Published in: European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging 2009-11, Vol.36 (11), p.1822-1828
• Main Authors: Galeev, Yu. M., Lishmanov, Yu. B., Grigorev, E. G., Popov, M. V., Aparcin, K. A., Salato, O. V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bacterial Translocation; Cardiology; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - physiology; Imaging; Intestinal Obstruction - diagnostic imaging; Intestinal Obstruction - metabolism; Intestinal Obstruction - microbiology; Intestine, Small - diagnostic imaging; Intestine, Small - metabolism; Intestine, Small - microbiology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Nuclear Medicine; Oncology; Organotechnetium Compounds - metabolism; Orthopedics; Radiology; Radionuclide Imaging; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Short Communication; Staining and Labeling
• ISSN: 1619-7070; 1619-7089
• DOI: 10.1007/s00259-009-1146-5

Purpose The purpose of this study was to obtain scintigraphic images depicting translocation of 99m Tc-labelled Escherichia coli bacteria through the intestinal barrier and to quantify this process using methods of nuclear medicine. Methods Thirty male Wistar rats (including 20 rats with modelled strangulated intestinal obstruction and 10 healthy rats) were used for bacterial scintigraphy. 99m Tc-labelled E. coli bacteria ( 99m Tс- E. coli ) with an activity of 7.4–11.1 MBq were administered into a section of the small intestine. Scintigraphic visualization of bacterial translocation into organs and tissues of laboratory animals was recorded in dynamic (240 min) and static (15 min) modes. The number of labelled bacteria, which migrated through the intestinal barrier, was quantified by calculating the translocation index (TI). Results Control indicated no translocation of 99m Tс- E. coli administered into the intestine through the parietes of the small intestine’s distal part in healthy animals. Animals with strangulated obstruction demonstrated different migration strength and routes of labelled bacteria from strangulated and superior to strangulation sections of the small intestine. 99m Tс- E. coli migrated from the strangulated loop into the peritoneal cavity later causing systemic bacteraemia through peritoneal resorption. The section of the small intestine, which was superior to the strangulation, demonstrated migration of labelled bacteria first into the portal and then into the systemic circulation. The strangulated section of the small intestine was the main source of bacteria dissemination since the number of labelled bacteria, which migrated from this section significantly, exceeded that of the area superior to the strangulation section of the small intestine ( p  = 0.0003). Conclusion Bacterial scintigraphy demonstrated the possibility of visualizing migration routes of labelled bacteria and quantifying their translocation through the intestinal barrier. This approach to study bacterial translocation may be successfully applied not only in strangulated intestinal obstruction, but also in other modelled pathological conditions.