EFFECT OF NITRIC OXIDE ON BACTERIAL TRANSLOCATION IN EXPERIMENTAL INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION

Abstract

Bacterial translocation is defined as the passage of endogenous bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract to the mesenteric lymph nodes and other organs that suggested to be the cause of sepsis in patient with multiple organ failure. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial effect of nitricoxide by using nitric oxidesynthetase enzyme inhibitors such as L-NAME and aminoguanidin in the obstructive intestinal rat model. Fourty rats were divided into four groups. The first one was control group and had only laparatomy. Intestinal obstruction was performed to second group, intestinal obstruction + L-NAME (L-NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) were applied to third group. Fourth group had intestinal obstruction and aminoguanidin was injected to them. According to the histopothological study of the intestine, group III demonstrated less ulceration than groups II and IV (p<0.05). Mucosal damage and bacterial translocation showed no correlation according to the results. The incidence of bacterial translocation was 46.6% in group II, 73.3% in group III and 90% in group IV. Eighty two percent of isolated bacteria was typical enteric Gram negative organisms. Bacterial translocation was not observed in control group. Plasma nitricoxide levels of groups were 14.0 ± 3.3, 31.2 ± 7.6, 12.2 ± 2.5, and 10.5 ± 1.8 (mol/L, respectively. As a conclusion; nitric oxide can damage mucosal integrity that may increase bacterial translocation but the antibacterial effect of nitric oxide may be more effective and nitric oxide can decrease the translocation of bacteria from gut.