Yoghurts containing probiotics reduce disruption of the small intestinal barrier in methotrexate-treated rats

Dig Dis Sci. 2008 Jul;53(7):1837-41. doi: 10.1007/s10620-008-0275-1. Epub 2008 Apr 22.

Abstract

Small intestinal permeability was employed to assess the efficacy of commercially available yoghurts containing probiotics in a rat model of methotrexate (MTX)-induced mucositis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to four groups (n = 8): MTX + water, MTX + cow's milk yoghurt (CY; fermented with Lactobacillus johnsonii), MTX + sheep's milk yoghurt (SY; containing Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus), and saline. Treatment gavage occurred twice daily for 7 days pre-MTX and 5 days post-MTX. Intestinal permeability was assessed on days -7, -1, 2, and 5 of the trial. Intestinal sections were collected at sacrifice for histological and biochemical analyses. Histology revealed that rats receiving CY and SY did not have a significantly damaged duodenum compared to controls. However, an improved small intestinal barrier function was evident, determined by a decreased lactulose/mannitol ratio. Probiotics containing SY and CY may be useful in preventing disruption to intestinal barrier function in MTX-induced mucositis.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Bacterial Translocation / drug effects
  • Bacterial Translocation / physiology
  • Intestine, Small / microbiology
  • Intestine, Small / pathology*
  • Lactobacillus*
  • Male
  • Methotrexate / toxicity
  • Mucositis / microbiology
  • Mucositis / pathology
  • Permeability
  • Probiotics / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Streptococcus thermophilus*
  • Yogurt / microbiology*

Substances

  • Methotrexate