Effects of synbiotics on intestinal mucosal barrier in rat model

Abstract

Summary Objective To investigate the protective effects of synbiotics on intestinal barrier function, and its priority to probiotics and prebiotics on intestinal barrier function in rat models. Methods We randomly divided 32 rats into four groups: control group (n = 8), probiotics group (n = 8), prebiotics group (n = 8) or synbiotics group (n = 8). All rats received cecectomy and gastrostomy, and tube feeding amoxicillin 50 mg and metronidazole 20 mg on operation day and the first operative day (POD1). After the establishment of impaired intestinal barrier model, rats in the 4 groups received intact protein enteral nutrition, intact protein enteral nutrition+ bifid-triple viable, intact protein enteral nutrition with dietary fiber, intact protein enteral nutrition with dietary fiber+ bifid-triple viable respectively. Samples of blood, urine and tissues of colonic mucose were collected on POD6. Thereafter we measured lactulose/mannitol (L/M) ratio, concentration of certain gut microflora, bacterial translocation rate, endotoxin level of portal vein serum and thickness of colonic mucose. Results Concentration of lactobacilli in probiotics group [(0.828 ± 0.366) × 107 CFU/g] and synbiotics group [(1.424 ± 0.928) × 107 CFU/g] were significantly higher than those in control group [(0.046 ± 0.037) × 107 CFU/g] and prebiotics group [(0.074 ± 0.046) × 107 CFU/g], P L/M ratio in synbiotics group (0.78 ± 0.43) was significantly lower than those in control group (1.45 ± 0.40), probiotics group (1.08 ± 0.22) and prebiotics group (1.35 ± 0.38), P Conclusions Probiotics can improve the concentration of colonic probiotics, while synbiotics can improve probiotics concentration and mucosa thickness in colon, decrease L/M ratio and bacterial translocation. Synbiotics shows more protective effects on intestinal mucosal barrier in rats after cecectomy and gastrostomy and the intervention of specific antibiotics.