Effects of probiotics on experimental short-bowel syndrome

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to analyze the potential benefits of probiotics on experimental short-bowel syndrome (SBS). METHODS: Forty-eight male Wistar-Albino rats were used in the study. The animals were divided into 6 groups as follows: control, rats that received probiotics, rats that underwent intestinal transection and anastomosis, rats that underwent anastomosis and received probiotics, rats that underwent 75% intestinal resection, and rats that underwent 75% intestinal resection plus received probiotics. Body weight monitoring, intestinal bowel diameter, villus length and crypt depth measurements, goblet cell count, mitosis, and immunohistochemical evaluation were used for the assessment of intestinal proliferation ability. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed a significant difference in villus length, crypt depth, goblet cell count in villus and crypt, mitosis, and immunohistochemical evaluation in the jejunum when the SBS group was compared with the SBS group that received probiotics. There was no significant difference in these parameters in ileum. CONCLUSIONS: This trial clearly has shown that probiotics had a positive impact on jejunum in the experimental SBS. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.