Abstract
The effects of intragastric antibiotics in rats were examined on fecal microflora and excretion and through transit time and cecocolonic myoelectric activity. A solution of nonabsorbable antibiotics infused into the stomach for 20 days had a dramatic effect on the quantity, composition, and bacterial content of rat feces. Both the dry weight and the water content of feces were increased. The amount of short-chain fatty acids in the feces was dramatically lowered. However, neither total nor cecocolonic transit time of solids was affected. The cyclic organization of cecocolonic myoelectric activity was altered by antibiotic treatment, and the motility index, ie, the quantity of myoelectric activity recorded on the colon, progressively increased. An infusion of short-chain fatty acids modified this motor pattern but did not restore activity to a level comparable to that of control animals. In conclusion, intragastric antibiotics dramatically reduced intestinal microflora and increased fecal excretion of dry matter and water but did not affect the transit time of solid gut contents, although they did influence cecocolonic motility.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Simon GL, Gorbach SL: The human intestinal microflora. Dig Dis Sci 31:147S-162S, 1986
Gorbach SL, Neale G, Levitan R, Hepner GW: Alterations in human intestinal microflora during experimental diarrhea. Gut 11:1–6, 1970
King CE, Toskes PP: Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Gastroenterology 76:1035–1055, 1979
Abrams GD, Bishop JE: Effect of the normal microbial flora on the resistance of the small intestine infection. J Bacteriol 92:1604–1608, 1966
Abrams GD, Bishop JE: Effect of the normal microbial flora on gastrointestinal motility. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 126:301–304, 1967
Riottot M, Sacquet E, Leprince C: Effect of wheat bran on gastrointestinal transit in germ-free and conventional rats. Digestion 29:37–41, 1984
MacFarlane GT, Englyst HN: Starch utilization by the human large intestinal microflora. J Appl Bacteriol 60:195–201, 1986
Sakata T: Stimulatory effect of short chain fatty acids on epithelial cell proliferation in the rat intestine: A possible explanation for trophic effects of fermentable fibre, gut microbes and luminal trophic factors. Br J Nutr 58:95–103, 1987
Cummings JH: Colonic absorption: The importance of short chain fatty acids in man. Scand J Gastroenterol 19:89–99, 1984
Kamath PS, Hoepfner MT, Phillips SF: Short chain fatty acids stimulate motility of canine ileum. Am J Physiol 253:G427-G433, 1987
Kamath PS, Phillips SF, Zinsmeister AR: Short chain fatty acids stimulate ileum motility in humans. Gastroenterology 95:1496–1502, 1988
Ruckebusch Y: Electromyographie globale des muscles lisses à partir d'électrodes chroniques intrapariétales souples. Rev Med Vet 124:1407–1434, 1973
Latour A, Ferre JP: Computer-aided analysis of gastrointestinal myoelectric activity. J Biomed Eng 7:127–131, 1985
Bolin DW, King RP, Klosterman EW: A simplified method for the determination of chromic oxide (Cr2O3) when used as an index substance. Science 116:634–635, 1952
Van der Waaij D, Sturm C: Antibiotic decontamination of the digestive tract of mice. Technical procedures. Lab Anim Care 18:1–10, 1968
Kurpad AV, Shetty PS: Effects of antimicrobial therapy on faecal bulking. Gut 27:55–58, 1986
Rao SSC, Edwards CA, Austen CJ, Bruce C, Read NW: Impaired fermentation of carbohydrate after ampicillin. Gastroenterology 94:928–932, 1988
Brause BD, Kiewicz RJA, Gotz MS, Franklin JE, Roberts RB: Comparative study of diarrhoea associated with clindamycin and ampicillin therapy. Am J Gastroenterol 73:244–248, 1980
Read NW: Diarrhoea: The failure of colonic salvage. Lancet 2:481–483, 1982
Simon GL, Gorbach SL: Intestinal flora in health and disease.In Physiology of the Gastrointestinal Tract. LR Johnson (ed). New York, Raven Press, 1981, pp 1361–1380
Itoh Z, Nakaya M, Suzuki T, Arai H, Wakabayashi K: Erythromycin mimics exogenous motilin in gastrointestinal contractile activity in the dog. Am J Physiol 247:G688-G694, 1984
Percy WH, Christensen J: Antibiotic depression of evoked and spontaneous responses of opossum distal colonic muscularis mucosaein vitro: A factor in antibiotic-associated colitis? Gastroenterology 88:964–970, 1985
Svendsen P: Inhibition of caecal motility in sheep by volatile fatty acids. Nord Vet Med 24:393–396, 1972
Topping DL, Mock S, Trimble RP, Storer GB, Illman RJ: Effect of varying the content and proportions of gum arabic and cellulose on caecal volatile fatty acid concentrations in the rat. Nutr Res 8:1013–1020, 1988
Yajima T: Contractile effect of short chain fatty acids on the isolated colon of the rat. J Physiol 368:667–678, 1985
Gregory PC: Inhibition of reticulo-ruminal motility by volatile fatty acids and lactic acid in sheep. J Physiol 382:355–371, 1987
Ferre JP, Ruckebusch Y: Myoelectrical activity and propulsion in the large intestine of fed and fasted rats. J Physiol 362:93–106, 1985
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Dr. Ruckebusch is deceased
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cherbut, C., Ferre, J.P., Corpet, D.E. et al. Alterations of intestinal microflora by antibiotics. Digest Dis Sci 36, 1729–1734 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01296617
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01296617