Korean J Urol.  2009 Dec;50(12):1253-1257.

Antimicrobial Effect of Lactobacillus in a Rat Model of Escherichia coli Urinary Tract Infection: A Preliminary Study

• Lee NS
• Lee SJ
• Cho YH
• Han CH

Abstract

PURPOSE
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infectious diseases. There are reports that loss or destruction of normal urinary flora such as Lactobacillus increases UTI, and in more recent reports, human urinary epithelial cells have been found to competitively block uropathogen conjugation. We investigated the blocking effect of the Lactobacillus rhamnosus in a rat model of UTI caused by Escherichia coli.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirty-two adult female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 to 350 g (Samtako BioKorea, Osan, South Korea) were randomly divided into 4 groups (Group I, control group; Group II, Lactobacillus group; Group III, E. coli group; Group IV, E. coli and Lactobacillus group). After 3 weeks, the urine and bladder were cultured for microbiological study and the bladder was examined histopathologically.
RESULTS
Microbiological culture of urine demonstrated no significant differences in the four groups, but there were significantly fewer bacteria in group IV than in group III (p<0.05). The bacterial growth of the bladder tissue showed the same result. Histological exam of the bladder of group IV showed decreased infiltration of leukocytes and less submucosal edema than in group III.
CONCLUSIONS
We were able to confirm the blocking effect of L. rhamnosus on E. coli growth. More studies are needed to further identify the therapeutic effect of Lactobacillus and to determine the optimal lactobacilli species, dose, and method of administration.

Keyword

Lactobacillus; Urinary tract infections

MeSH Terms

Adult
Animals
Bacteria
Communicable Diseases
Edema
Epithelial Cells
Escherichia
Escherichia coli
Female
Humans
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Leukocytes
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Urinary Bladder
Urinary Tract
Urinary Tract Infections

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Bladder section in a rat model of Escherichia coli urinary tract infection. (A) The control group shows nearly normal bladder mucosa. (B) The Lactobacillus group shows mild submucosal edema and leukocyte infiltration, but no hemorrhage. (C) The E. coli group shows severe submucosal edema, hemorrhage, and leukocyte infiltration. (D) The Lactobacillus plus E. coli group also shows mild to moderate submucosal edema, hemorrhage, and leukocyte infiltration (H&E, ×200).

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