Effects of Clostridium difficile, lactobacillus casei, bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus sp. on anomalous lower bowel function on germfree mice

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the redressing effects which selected elements of the microbial flora have on intestinal and cardiovascular anomalies of germfree mice. In reference to the enlarged cecum, to the more positive redox potential in cecal contents and to the refractoriness of vascular smooth muscle to various agonist substances observed in germfree rodents, the following were determined after three weeks' microbial association: (i) the weight, (ii) dry percent, (iii) Eh and (iv) epinephrine inhibitory activity of ‘alpha pigment’ in cecal contents. The results indicated that none of the tested micro-organisms changed the weight and dry percent of cecal contents of the ex-germfree mice in comparison to germfree controls. L. casei caused a slight shift to less positive Eh values. Cl. difficile and L. casei as mono-associates reduced the activity of alpha pigment by approx. 80% in comparison to germfree controls. These findings suggest that in malfunctions which develop in gastrointestinal and cardiovascular aspects of rodents in the absence of the flora, specific microbial associates effect their remedial action by correcting specific details in various anomalous functions.