Korean J Med.  2004 Nov;67(5):513-520.

Effect of bovine colostrum on the bacterial translocation and intestinal endotoxemia in 5-fluorouracil treated rats

• Kim JW
• Jeon WK
• Lee SS
• Choi K
• Yun JW
• Yeon JS
• Kim EJ
• Shin MS
• Lee DH
• Park HS
• Min HJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Antitumor drugs such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are known to induce intestinal damages and bacterial translocation. The present studies examined whether or not bovine colostrum protects against gut barrier damage, bacterial translocation and endotoxemia from these antitumor drugs.
METHODS
Rat received either no drug, chemotherapy alone (5-FU, 300 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection) or bovine colostrum (4 g/day per os) for 5 days prior to 5-FU and for 5 days afterward. Intestinal permeability, enteric aerobic bacterial counts, serum albumin and protein levels, and pathologic findings of ileum were measured. Bacterial translocation to systemic blood, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver and spleen were measured. Systemic plasma endotoxin levels were quantified by the chromogenic limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) technique.
RESULTS
5-FU increase intestinal permeability and plasma endotoxin levels, and decreased serum levels of total protein and albumin. Also 5-FU induced bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes, liver and spleen, not to systemic blood, but did not induce changes of enteric bacterial numbers and mucosal damages of small intestine. Combined administration of bovine colostrum with 5-FU reduced an increase in intestinal permeability and declines in serum albumin and protein levels by 5-FU. Bovine colostrum supplements also reduced bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes, liver and spleen, and endotoxemia.
CONCLUSION
Bovine colostrums may beneficial effects in preventing 5-FU induced gut barrier damage, bacterial translocation and intestinal endotoxemia.

Keyword

5-fluorouracil; Bacterial translocation; Endotoxins; Colostrum

MeSH Terms

Animals
Antineoplastic Agents
Bacterial Load
Bacterial Translocation*
Colostrum*
Drug Therapy
Endotoxemia*
Endotoxins
Fluorouracil*
Horseshoe Crabs
Ileum
Intestine, Small
Liver
Lymph Nodes
Permeability
Plasma
Rats*
Serum Albumin
Spleen
Antineoplastic Agents
Endotoxins
Fluorouracil
Serum Albumin