Effect of Intraperitoneal Prosthetic Materials on Reticuloendothelial Function in the Rat

Abstract

The effect of different intraperitoneal prosthetic biomaterials on reticuloendothelial system (RES) function and bacterial translocation were studied in the rat. Rubber drains, knitted dacron (KD), or silicone elastomer (SE) with surface areas of either 3 or 10 cm2 were implanted into the lower right part of the abdominal cavity under aseptic conditions. RES function, expressed as the phagocytic index and the uptake of 125 I-labeled Escherichia coli (cpm/g tissue) in systemic organs (liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys) and in gut-associated lymphold tissues [GALT; i.e., mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), jejunum, ileum, and colon], was measured 1 day after implantation/sham operation. A significant elevation of the phagocytic index was noted in all implanted groups, except the group with 3 cm2 of SE, as compared with controls. The uptake of 125 I-labeled E. coli significantly increased in the liver (rubber, 10 cm2), spleen (rubber, 10 cm2), lungs (rubber, 10 cm2; KD, 3 and 10 cm2; SE, 3 and 10 cm2) and kidneys (rubber, 10 cm2), but significantly decreased in the MLN and jejunum in all implanted groups, in ileum (KD, 10 cm2; SE, 3 cm2), and colon (rubber, 10 cm2; KD, 3 and 10 cm2; SE, 3 cm2). The percentage uptake significantly increased in the systemic organs and decreased in the GALT in most of the implanted groups. Indigenous bacterial translocation to the MLN, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys occurred simultaneously. A size-dependent fashion in influence on RES function and incidence of bacterial translocation was observed. The results suggest that intraperitoneal prosthetic biomaterials alter host RES function with concomitant bacterial translocation. The impaired RES function in GALT is supposed to predispose to bacterial translocation and prosthesis-associated infection.