Establishment and evaluation of an experimental rat model for high-altitude intestinal barrier injury

Abstract

In the present study an experimental high-altitude intestinal barrier injury rat model was established by simulating an acute hypoxia environment, to provide an experimental basis to assess the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of altitude sickness. A total of 70 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: Control group (group C) and a high-altitude hypoxia group (group H). Following 2 days adaptation, the rats in group H were exposed to a simulated 4,000-m, high-altitude hypoxia environment for 3 days to establish the experimental model. To evaluate the model, bacterial translocation, serum lipopolysaccharide level, pathomorphology, ultrastructure and protein expression in rats were assessed. The results indicate that, compared with group C, the rate of bacterial translocation and the apoptotic index of intestinal epithelial cells were significantly higher in group H (P<0.01). Using a light microscope it was determined that the intestinal mucosa was thinner in group H, there were fewer epithelial cells present and the morphology was irregular. Observations with an electron microscope indicated that the intestinal epithelial cells in group H were injured, the spaces among intestinal villi were wider, the tight junctions among cells were open and lanthanum nitrate granules (from the fixing solution) had diffused into the intestinal mesenchyme. The expression of the tight junction protein occludin was also decreased in group H. Therefore, the methods applied in the present study enabled the establishment of a stable, high-altitude intestinal barrier injury model in rats.

Exercise in hypobaric hypoxia increases markers of intestinal injury and symptoms of gastrointestinal distress

“…(2017) who reported significant elevations in circulating endotoxins following exercise in normobaric hypoxia (14% $${F_{{\rm{i}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}}}$$), but not normoxia. Our data also confirm the findings of previous investigations demonstrating increased bacterial translocation following hypoxic exposures in rodent models (Luo et al., 2017; Q.‐Q. Zhou et al., 2011).…”

Ibuprofen Increases Markers of Intestinal Barrier Injury But Suppresses Inflammation at Rest and After Exercise in Hypoxia

“…While the risk of GI complications such as GI bleeding with ibuprofen use has been reported to be relatively low (32), this risk may be exacerbated by other contributing factors in the context of high-altitude. For example, rodent models have demonstrated that hypoxia alone can damage intestinal cells and increase intestinal permeability (33,34). While not assessed in the present study, the compounding effects of ibuprofen and hypoxia on intestinal barrier injury is an interesting area of study that may be relevant for high-altitude travel.…”

Succession of the Gut Microbiome in the Tibetan Population of the Minjiang River Basin

“…These changes can lead to mucosal barrier dysfunction. In addition, hypoxia can affect the intestinal mucosal immune system [49]. Low temperature can also affect the gut microbiome, which has a protective effect on obesity [50].…”