The Effect of Probiotics for Preventing Radiation-Induced Morphological Changes in Intestinal Mucosa of Rats

Abstract

Radiation therapy is an important treatment modality for abdominal or pelvic cancer, but there is a common and serious complication such as radiation-induced enteritis. Probiotics is reported to have positive effects against radiation-induced enteropathy. In this study, morphological changes of bowel mucosa were analyzed in rats to presume the effect of probiotics on radiation-induced enteritis and its correlation with radiation dose. A total of 48 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to two groups and received a solution containing 1.0×108 colony-forming units of Lactiobacillus acidophilus or water once daily for 10 days. Each of two groups was divided into three subgroups and abdomino-pelvic area of each subgroup was irradiated with 10, 15, and 20 Gy, respectively on the seventh day of feeding the solutions. All rats were sacrificed 3 days after irradiation and the mucosal thickness and villus height of jejunum, ileum and colon were measured. The morphological parameters of the small intestine represented significant differences between two solution groups irradiated 10 or 15 Gy, except for villus height of jejunum in 15 Gy-subgroup (P=0.065). There was no significant morphometric difference between two groups irradiated with 20 Gy of radiation. Probiotics appear to be effective for the morphological shortening of small intestinal mucosa damaged by radiation less than or equal to 15 Gy.Graphical Abstract

Dietary administration of resistant starch improved caecal barrier function by enhancing intestinal morphology and modulating microbiota composition in meat duck

“…VH was measured from the tip to the crypt-villus junction, and CD from the crypt-villus junction to the base (21) . The mucosal thickness was defined as the distance from the base of muscularis mucosa to the tip of the villus (22) .…”

Protective Effects of Quercetin on Intestinal Damage Caused by Ionizing Radiation

“…The most important reason for limiting the RT dosage is that, during RT, normal tissues are exposed to radiation along with the cancerous tissues (2,3). After the bone marrow, the gastrointestinal system (GIS) is the region most sensitive to the effects of radiation because of its rapid mitotic activity and, following RT, radiation-induced enteritis and/ or colitis generally occur (4,5).…”

“…In previous studies, chemical agents and oral nutritional supplements were used to reduce these complications associated with RT (1,3,7,10,11).…”

Therapeutic Modification of the GI Microbiome

“…39 Findings from animal studies have suggested that probiotics may prevent radiation-induced enteritis, a common and serious complication of radiation treatment for abdominal or pelvic cancer. 40 A review of 14 RCTs provided some evidence for the safe use of a strain of Lactobacillus reuteri for reducing the incidence of acute gastroenteritis in children, and preventing and treating some functional GI disorders, such as colic and regurgitation in infants. 41 Evidence for using probiotics such as L. GG and S. boulardii to prevent and treat "travelers' diarrhea" has been suggested, but is inconclusive, given the small number of clinical studies to date.…”