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The Effect of Synbiotics on Acute Radiation-Induced Diarrhea and Its Association with Mucosal Inflammatory and Adaptive Responses in Rats

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Abstract

Background

Previous clinical studies advocated that probiotics beneficially affect acute radiation-induced diarrhea. These encouraging results were attributed to the restoration of the intestinal flora; however, there is lack of evidence if and how probiotics influence the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.

Aims

The present study was conducted to investigate the potential supporting role of a synbiotic preparation (combination of pro- and pre-biotics) on experimentally-induced acute radiation diarrhea from the perspective of mucosal inflammation and histological injury.

Methods

Ninety adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned into six groups. Group A (non-irradiated), group B (non-irradiated/synbiotic supplemented), group C (irradiated), and group D (irradiated/synbiotic supplemented) were followed up to a week after the beginning of the experiment. Group E (irradiated) and group F (irradiated/synbiotic supplemented) were followed up for four days. On the last day of the experiments tissues were harvested for structural and molecular assessments.

Results

Synbiotic administration could not avert the occurrence of diarrhea, but significantly attenuated its severity. This effect was associated with the significant downregulation of neutrophil accumulation and lipid peroxidation during the acute phase. During the subacute phase, synbiotic treatment significantly improved both the histological profile and radiation mucositis. These mechanisms significantly contributed to the rehabilitation of the intestinal absorptive function as further indicated from the significantly reduced weight loss.

Conclusions

Given the optimization of the intestinal flora exerted by synbiotics, the resolution of diarrhea relies on the suppression of the “reactive” and the augmentation of “regenerative” components of acute radiation-induced intestinal response.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the interest of Mr. Quentin Mackrell who edited the manuscript with a view to clarifying the syntax where appropriate. This work was partially supported by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Special Account for Research Grants, No. 70/4/8183).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1st Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Hippokration Hospital, University of Athens School of Medicine, 114 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11527, Athens, Greece

    Basileios G. Spyropoulos, George Theodoropoulos & George C. Zografos

  2. 2nd Department of Radiology, Radiotherapy Unit, Attikon University Hospital, University of Athens School of Medicine, 1 Rimini Street, 12462, Haidari, Athens, Greece

    Nikolaos Kelekis & Vasileios Kouloulias

  3. 3rd Department of Surgery, Attikon University Hospital, University of Athens School of Medicine, 1 Rimini Street, 12462, Haidari, Athens, Greece

    Evangelos P. Misiakos, Gabriel Karatzas, Anastasios Machairas & Constantinos Fotiadis

  4. Department of Surgery, Athens Navy Hospital, 70 Deinokratous Street, 11521, Athens, Greece

    Christos N. Stoidis

  5. 1st Department of Radiation Oncology, St. Savvas Hospital, Hellenic Anticancer Institute, 171 Alexandras Ave, 11522, Athens, Greece

    Haralambos Zapatis

  6. 1st First Department of Pathology, Laiko Hospital, University of Athens School of Medicine, 17 St Thomas Street, 11527, Athens, Greece

    Kalliopi Diamantopoulou

  7. Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Section of Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Natural Products, University of Patras, 26110, Patras, Greece

    Chrisostomi Gialeli & Nikos K. Karamanos

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  1. Basileios G. Spyropoulos
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  2. George Theodoropoulos
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Correspondence to George Theodoropoulos.

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Spyropoulos, B.G., Theodoropoulos, G., Misiakos, E.P. et al. The Effect of Synbiotics on Acute Radiation-Induced Diarrhea and Its Association with Mucosal Inflammatory and Adaptive Responses in Rats. Dig Dis Sci 58, 2487–2498 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-013-2700-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-013-2700-3

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