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Saccharomyces boulardii Inhibits Water and Electrolytes Changes Induced by Castor Oil in the Rat Colon

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Abstract

The biotherapeutic agent Saccharomyces boulardii has been shown to inhibit castor oil-induced diarrhoea in rats. The present study investigated the mechanism(s) of this antidiarrhoeal effect in terms of water and electrolyte (sodium, potassium and chloride) changes using two rat models. A single oral dose of S. boulardii of up to 12 × 1010 CFU/kg of viable cells did not inhibit castor oil-induced fluid secretion in the enteropooling model. However, the yeast dose dependently reduced castor oil induced fluid secretion into the colon, with a significant protection at 12 × 1010 CFU/kg. In this model, castor oil reversed net sodium and chloride absorption into net secretion, and increased net potassium secretion into the lumen. Single pre-treatment with S. boulardii at 4 and 12 × 1010 CFU/kg dose dependently decreased these electrolyte changes. In conclusion, S. boulardii possesses potent anti-secretory properties versus water and electrolyte secretion induced by castor oil in the rat colon.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biocodex, Service de Pharmacologie, Zac de Mercières, 60200, Compiègne, France

    Philippe Girard MS, Yannick Pansart, Marie-Claude Coppe & Jean-Marie Gillardin MS

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  1. Philippe Girard MS
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  2. Yannick Pansart
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  3. Marie-Claude Coppe
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  4. Jean-Marie Gillardin MS
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Correspondence to Philippe Girard MS.

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Girard, P., Pansart, Y., Coppe, MC. et al. Saccharomyces boulardii Inhibits Water and Electrolytes Changes Induced by Castor Oil in the Rat Colon. Dig Dis Sci 50, 2183–2190 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-005-3029-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-005-3029-3

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