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Decrease in collagenous proteins and mechanical strength of distal colon after diverting colostomy in rats

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Abstract

The effects of a diverting colostomy on weight, collagen content, and biomechanical strength of the left colon was investigated in rats. Female rats received either a diverting colostomy or a sham-operation and were killed randomly 1, 2, 4, or 12 weeks after surgery. The dry weight and hydroxyproline content of excluded colon decreased by 37% (P<0.001, confidence limits (CL)=21–53%) and 25% (P<0.001, CL=18–31%), respectively, after 4 weeks, and by 52% (P<0.001, CL=38–66%) and 40% (P<0.001, CL=27–53%), respectively, after 12 weeks compared to sham-operated rats. The breaking strength of the defunctioned colon decreased by 21% (P<0.05, CL=2–40%) after 4 weeks and by 25% after 12 weeks (P<0.05, CL=4–46%). The tensile strength of defunctioned colon (load per unit collagen) was reduced by 19% after 4 weeks (P<0.05, CL=6–32%). Proximal to the colostomy site we found no differences in the hydroxyproline content or biomechanical strength. In conclusion, defunctioning of the left colon in rats leads to deterioration in the biomechanical properties caused by a lesser content and a decreased quality in the collagen of the left colon.

Résumé

Les effets de la colostomie de diversion sur le poids, le contenu en collagène et la force biomécanique du colon gauche a été étudiée chez le rat. Des rats femelles recevaient soit une colostomie de diversion soit une opération fictive et étaient tuées de façon randomisée 1, 2, 4 et 12 semaines après chirurgie. Le poids sec et le contenu en hydroxyproline du colon exclu diminuait de 37% (P<0,001), limites de confiance (CL=21–53%) et 25% (P<0,0001, CL=18–31%), respectivement, après 4 semaines et de 52% (P<0,001, CL=38–66%) et 40% (P<0,001, CL=27–53%), respectivement après 12 semaines comparées aux rats témoins. La force de rupture du colon non fonctionnel diminuait de 21% (P<0,05, CL=2–40%) après 4 semaines et de 25% après 12 semaines (P<0,05, CL=4–46%). La résistance à la traction du colon non fonctionnel, charge par unité de collagène était réduite de 19% après 4 semaines (P<0,05, CL=6–32%). En amont de la colostomie nous n'avons trouvé aucune différece dans le contenu en hydroxyproline ou la force biomécanique. En conclusion, la défonctionnalisation du colon gauche chez le rat conduit à la détérioration des propriétés bio-mécaniques dûe à un contenu moins grand et une qualité diminuée du collagène dans le colon gauche.

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Kissmeyer-Nielsen, P., Christensen, H. & Laurberg, S. Decrease in collagenous proteins and mechanical strength of distal colon after diverting colostomy in rats. Int J Colorect Dis 8, 120–124 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00341182

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