Background: Increased intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation have been observed after partial hepatectomy (PH).
Methods: Rats (n = 40) were randomly divided into four groups: control; PH 1d, PH 3d and PH 5d. PH animals underwent two-thirds partial hepatectomy before sacrifice at 1, 3, or 5 days thereafter. The intestinal tight junction (TJ) morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Distribution of TJ protein occludin in lipid raft microdomains was examined using Western blot analysis.
Results: Intestinal TJ structures revealed significant changes at 1 day after PH that had partly recovered by 5 days. During this period, occludin protein decreased significantly in lipid raft microdomains, increasing partially by 5 days.
Conclusion: PH induced disruption of TJ structures in rat ilea, which was associated with redistribution of occludin protein in lipid raft microdomains.
Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Inc.