Effects of short term fasting on the evolution of fecal peritonitis in mice

Abstract

To investigate the effect of 72 hours food suppression on the evolution of fecal peritonitis in mice evaluating the mortality and measuring the number and size of abscesses formed into the peritoneal cavity. Mice receiving commercial diet and water ad libitum (control group, N=35) and mice fasted during 72 h (N=35), receiving only water ad libitum, were inoculated by i.p. route, with 4uL/g body weight of a fecal suspension diluted 1:6 or 1:9 in 0.15M NaCl solution (1:6 dilution, 22 controls and 18 fasted; 1:9 dilution, 13 controls and 17 fasted). Animals were followed up until two weeks after fecal inoculation, when the survivors were euthanized for evaluation of the number and size of intra-peritoneal abscesses. Mortality was evaluated by Kaplan Meyer curves. Mortality was significantly higher in fasted groups than in controls. However the number and size of abscesses were significantly less in fasted groups than in controls. Seventy two hours food suppression increased the susceptibility to endotoxic shock (high mortality after peritonitis induction) and the resistance to infection with fecal microorganisms (less number and size of intra-peritoneal abscesses).