The Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol 10, Issue 2 241-244, Copyright © 1977 by Society for General Microbiology
Effects of biliary diversion on intestinal microflora in the rat
V. Burke, D. E. Stone, J. Beaman and M. Gracey
Certain bile acids inhibit the growth in vitro of organisms commonly found
in the intestine and, in particular, anaerobic bacteria. As the importance
of this effect in vivo has not been demonstrated, we investigated changes
in intestinal flora in the rat after diversion of bile to the urinary
bladder. Five days after operation there was an increase in numbers of
Proteus sp. in the stomach, mid-jejunum and caecum and of coliform bacilli
in the stomach and mid-jejunum. Lacto-bacilli were increased in the
stomach. There was no change in numbers of anaerobic organisms. Similar
changes in bacterial flora followed 5 days of pair feeding in control rats.
Our results do not suggest a specific antibacterial effect of bile salts in
the rat in vivo. The changes found are probably related to semi-starvation,
because the food intake of the rats after operation was about half that of
control rats having an unrestricted diet.
