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Biomedical subjects

R M Batt

Publications and source records attributed to R M Batt.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Interaction of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli 0111 with rabbit intestinal mucosa in vitro.

A model system using rabbit intestinal mucosal explants has been developed to examine the characteristic ultrastructural damage to the brush border induced by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli 0111. In this model, as in others, bacterial adherence to the microvillous membranes occurred in two morphologically distinct stages. Initial attachment of enteropathogenic strains of E. coli to ileal mucosa appeared to be a goblet cells and the mucous layer covering the microvilli. The next stage involved binding of enteropathogenic strains of E. coli to the bases of the microvilli that became elongated and vesiculated. Eventually, large areas of brush border effacement occurred with close apposition between bacterial and enterocyte membranes, leading to cup and pedestal formation. With a relatively large inoculum of bacteria (10(8) cfu/ml) these changes occurred within 4 h, but even with much lower inocula (10(5) cfu/ml) localized areas of damage were seen within 8 h. Although the bacteriostatic antibiotic tetracycline (700 mg/L) inhibited bacterial replication, it did not prevent the characteristic damage produced by enteropathogenic strains of E. coli. Enteropathogenic strains of E. coli 0111 were able to produce attaching effacement to gastric, duodenal, jejunal, ileal, and colonic mucosa.

Animals↗

Identification and characterization of a pancreatic intrinsic factor in the dog.

An intrinsic factor has been identified in the canine pancreas, and output and properties of this protein have been compared with those of gastric intrinsic factor in the dog. Mean concentrations of intrinsic factor and peak outputs per minute were approximately 5- to 10-fold higher in pure pancreatic juice after stimulation with secretin and cholecystokinin, respectively, than in pentagastrin-stimulated gastric juice. Purified gastric and pancreatic intrinsic factors had an identical molecular mass of 65 kDa, estimated by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200, while sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated single bands corresponding to 53 kDa. Immunoblots showed that rabbit polyclonal antiserum to canine gastric intrinsic factor cross-reacted with canine pancreatic intrinsic factor. Gastric and pancreatic intrinsic factor-cyano[57Co]cobalamin complexes exhibited comparable association constants for ileal receptors in canine brush-border vesicles, while there was minimal binding to jejunal vesicles. These findings demonstrate that the canine pancreas is an important source of an intrinsic factor that closely resembles gastric intrinsic factor in the dog.

Animals↗

Gastric and pancreatic intrinsic factor-mediated absorption of cobalamin in the dog.

The effects of canine gastric and pancreatic intrinsic factors on uptake and subcellular localization of cobalamin have been investigated in vivo to determine whether these proteins could mediate the physiological absorption of cobalamin in the dog. Cyano [57Co]cobalamin was introduced into ileal loops in dogs under general anesthesia, either free (control) or bound to gastric or pancreatic intrinsic factor. At 2 h, total uptake of cobalamin by ileal mucosa was significantly enhanced after prior binding to either gastric or pancreatic intrinsic factor compared with controls. Displacement of receptor-bound cobalamin with EDTA showed that enhanced total uptake reflected increased internalization of cobalamin by both proteins. Findings after reorienting sucrose density gradient centrifugation of ileal mucosa from loops containing intrinsic factor-cobalamin complexes were consistent with a major lysosomal and perhaps endosomal localization of internalized cobalamin, in agreement with results after oral administration of cobalamin. In marked contrast, cobalamin was recovered predominantly in the soluble fractions and was not associated with particulate subcellular organelles in ileal mucosa from control loops. These findings suggest that both gastric and pancreatic intrinsic factors can promote the physiological absorption of cobalamin by receptor-mediated endocytosis in the dog.

Administration, Oral↗

Circulating concentrations of trypsin-like immunoreactivity and activities of lipase and amylase after pancreatic duct ligation in dogs.

The possibility that assay of circulating trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI) could assist in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in dogs has been examined by assaying plasma TLI concentrations after pancreatic duct ligation and comparing the results with plasma activities of lipase and amylase. Venous blood samples were obtained from 8 dogs before surgery, then daily for 5 days and at 14 days after ligation of pancreatic ducts. Plasma concentrations of TLI increased within 24 hours and tended to peak before and to decrease more rapidly than activities of lipase and amylase, remaining greater than the control range for 5 days in all but 2 dogs. Plasma lipase and amylase activities increased together and remained greater than the control range in all dogs for 5 days after surgery. Regression analysis of all postoperative data indicated significant correlations between concentration of TLI and lipase activity (r = 0.67, P less than 0.001), concentration of TLI and amylase activity (r = 0.53, P less than 0.001), and between lipase and amylase activities (r = 0.74, P less than 0.001). These findings suggested that assay of TLI may provide an early indication of acute pancreatitis in dogs. Because TLI is specifically pancreatic in origin, high plasma TLI concentration may prove a more reliable indicator of clinical pancreatitis than high activities of amylase or lipase, which may be derived from extrapancreatic tissues.

Amylases↗

Assessment of canine intestinal permeability, using 51Cr-labeled ethylenediaminetetraacetate.

The 51Cr-labeled EDTA was validated as a suitable permeability probe in dogs for measurement of passive, unmediated diffusion across intestinal mucosa via intercellular pathways. The 51Cr-labeled EDTA was stable in aqueous solution and did not bind to biologic tissue and fluids. After incubation of 51Cr-labeled EDTA in isolated jejunal loops, analytic subcellular fractionation of jejunal mucosa on reorientating sucrose-density gradients was performed, and no association of 51Cr-labeled EDTA with particulate intracellular organelles was detected. Intravenously administered 51Cr-labeled EDTA was rapidly and completely excreted in urine. Intestinal permeability to 51Cr-labeled EDTA after oral administration was assessed in healthy dogs. The percentage of the administered dose of 51Cr-labeled EDTA excreted in the urine in 24 hours ranged from 2.3 to 17.6% (median, 13%).

Animals↗

Biochemical changes in the jejunal mucosa of dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency following pancreatic duct ligation.

The effects of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency on the small intestinal mucosa were examined in dogs following pancreatic duct ligation. There were no significant changes either in villus architecture or enterocyte height after duct ligation, but numbers of bacteria in duodenal juice increased then subsequently decreased following treatment with exogenous pancreatic enzymes. Pancreatic insufficiency resulted in a considerable increase in the proportion of microvillar membrane proteins of molecular mass over 200 kDa from 3.3 +/- 4 per cent (mean +/- SEM) to 13.6 +/- 7.2 per cent, and this decreased to 6.9 +/- 5.2 per cent following pancreatic enzyme supplementation. However, anticipated increases in activities of maltase and sucrase were not observed following duct ligation, and there was a reduction in lactase activity which was reversed by pancreatic supplementation. Activities of marker enzymes for the other subcellular organelles showed relatively minor or no changes throughout the study. These findings are consistent with a specific role for pancreatic enzymes in the post-translational processing of intestinal microvillar membrane proteins, and suggest that reduced degradation of brush border proteins in the absence of pancreatic secretions may be masked by quantitative and qualitative changes in the intestinal microflora.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Effect of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency on cobalamin absorption in dogs.

The possibility that the canine pancreas might have an important role in the physiologic absorption of cobalamin (vitamin B12) has been explored by determining the effect of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency on cobalamin absorption and by examining the subsequent influence of bovine pancreatic enzymes and canine pancreatic juice. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency was induced by ligation of pancreatic ducts and confirmed by indirect assessment of exocrine pancreatic function. Cobalamin absorption was determined by oral administration of cyano[58Co]cobalamin and quantitation of radioactivity in blood, urine, and feces during 48 hours. Pancreatic duct ligation resulted in a significant (P less than 0.001) decrease in cobalamin absorption, which was not restored by oral administration of bovine pancreatic enzymes, despite considerable improvements in steatorrhea and in vivo proteolytic activities. In marked contrast, malabsorption of cobalamin was significantly (P less than 0.05) reversed by oral administration of canine pancreatic juice. These results indicate that pancreatic secretions have an important role in the normal absorption of cobalamin in the dog, a role that does not appear to be attributable to pancreatic enzymes, but is consistent with the existence of a pancreatic intrinsic factor in this species.

Animals↗

Effects of dietary change and rotavirus infection on small intestinal structure and function in gnotobiotic piglets.

The combined effects of weaning and rotavirus infection on small intestinal structure and function and on growth rate were studied in 28 gnotobiotic piglets. There was little damage by rotavirus to the proximal small intestine, some damage to the mid small intestine and relatively severe damage to the distal small intestine; villi were stunted, crypts lengthened and activities of all brush border enzymes decreased. The damage was short-lived despite the synchronisation of rotavirus infection with simulated weaning. There was no evidence of persistent damage to the small intestine and growth rate was unaffected.

Animals↗

Investigation of the physical properties of dog intestinal microvillar membrane proteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis: a comparison between normal dogs and dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

Procedures have been validated for the investigation of the physical properties of canine microvillar membrane proteins by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These have been used to examine mucosal samples from eight control dogs and from five dogs with naturally occurring exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in order to evaluate the potential role of the pancreas in the normal turnover of microvillar membrane proteins in the dog. Gel scanning showed that the proportion of total membrane protein in bands corresponding to a molecular mass greater than 200 kDa was up to 20-times higher in dogs with EPI than in control dogs. In particular, a band of apparent molecular mass 218 kDa represented between 8 and 28% of membrane protein in all affected dogs, compared with only 0.5 to 1.8% in controls, and is most likely to contain single chains of both pro-maltase-glucoamylase and pro-sucrase-isomaltase. Incubation of microvillar membranes in vitro with either trypsin or canine pancreatic juice resulted in degradation of this high molecular mass band and a corresponding increase in the amount of protein in three bands representing molecular masses of 150, 133 and 106 kDa. In samples from control dogs aminopeptidase N was identified in the 133 kDa band by Western blotting and incubation with monospecific antiserum. These findings suggest that pancreatic enzymes play a major role in the normal post-translational processing of intestinal microvillar membrane proteins in the dog.

Animals↗

Lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis associated with bacterial overgrowth in a dog.

Lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis, associated with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, was diagnosed in a 3.5-year-old German Shepherd Dog with chronic intermittent diarrhea, using bacteriologic culture of duodenal juice and histologic examination of jejunal biopsy specimens. Oral administration of oxytetracycline alone resulted in clinical improvement and a marked decrease in the jejunal mononuclear cell infiltrate. Additional treatment with prednisolone administered orally resulted in almost complete clinical and histologic recovery. This case illustrates that small intestinal bacterial overgrowth may have to be considered as an underlying cause of lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis in the dog and that antibiotic treatment may be necessary to attain remission.

Animals↗

Sensitivity and specificity of radioimmunoassay of serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity for the diagnosis of canine exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

Concentrations of serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI) measured by radioimmunoassay were low (less than 1.9 micrograms/L) in 25 dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), compared with 100 clinically normal (control) dogs (5.2 to 34.0 micrograms/L; P less than 0.001; sensitivity, 100%). Serum TLI concentrations (5.5 to 35.0 micrograms/L) in a group of 50 dogs with small intestinal disease (SID) were not significantly different from those of control dogs, values being greater than the lower limit of the control range in all cases (specificity, 100%). Results of bentiromide (N-benzoyl-L-tyrosyl-p-aminobenzoic acid [BT-PABA]) tests and fecal proteolytic activity (determined by use of an azocasein substrate) were abnormal in 21 of 22 dogs with EPI (sensitivity, 95%). Bentiromide test results were subnormal in 13 of 35 dogs with SID (specificity, 63%), whereas fecal proteolytic activity was subnormal in 7 of 34 dogs with SID (specificity, 79%). It was concluded that assay of serum TLI is a highly sensitive and specific test for the identification of dogs with EPI.

4-Aminobenzoic Acid↗

Response of the jejunal mucosa of dogs with aerobic and anaerobic bacterial overgrowth to antibiotic therapy.

Dogs with naturally occurring aerobic or anaerobic bacterial overgrowth have been examined before and after antibiotic therapy in order to assess reversibility of damage to the jejunal mucosa. Histological changes in peroral jejunal biopsies were relatively minor before and after treatment, but sucrose density gradient centrifugation revealed specific biochemical abnormalities that responded to antibiotic therapy. Aerobic overgrowth was initially associated with a marked loss of the main brush border component of alkaline phosphatase activity; this recovered following treatment, suggesting that aerobic bacteria may cause reversible damage to the hydrophobic region of the brush border membrane. In contrast, anaerobic overgrowth was initially associated with a marked reduction in brush border density, indicative of a considerable fall in the glycoprotein-to-lipid ratio of the membrane. Density increased from 1.17 to 1.21 g/ml after antibiotic therapy, consistent with recovery from this relatively severe damage to the brush border caused by anaerobic bacteria. Reductions in soluble and peroxisomal catalase activities which could compromise mucosal protection against free radicals in dogs with aerobic overgrowth, and a loss of particulate malate dehydrogenase activity indicative of mitochondrial disruption in dogs with anaerobic overgrowth, were also reversed after treatment. These findings indicate that aerobic and anaerobic bacterial overgrowth can result in contrasting but potentially reversible damage to the jejunal mucosa which would not be detected by conventional investigative procedures.

Animals↗

Lectin-induced damage to the enterocyte brush border. An electron-microscopic study in rabbits.

The ultrastructural effects of 11 lectins on the intestinal brush border were examined by means of an in vitro rabbit ileal mucosal explant culture system. Five of the lectins that bind to oligosaccharides containing either N-acetylglucosamine (phytohaemagglutinin, Euonymus europaeus lectin, pokeweed mitogen, and wheat germ agglutinin) or N-acetylneuraminic acid (Mycoplasma gallisepticum lectin) all had a specific effect on microvilli. The effects varied in accordance with the lectin and included lengthening, distortion, and vesiculation of the microvilli. In contrast, lectins binding specifically to galactose, glucose, mannose, and N-acetylgalactosamine had no effect. Incubation of mucosal fragments with the divalent cation ionophore A23187 did not mimic the effect of the lectins. This apparent relationship between lectin damage and receptor specificity may reflect either accessibility of appropriate binding sites or a differential response to binding.

Animals↗

Bacterial overgrowth in the duodenum of dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

Bacterial overgrowth (greater than 10(5) colony-forming units/ml duodenal juice) in the duodenum was demonstrated in 8 of 11 dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). In 4 of these 8 dogs, the overgrowth included large numbers (greater than 10(4) colony-forming units/ml) of obligate anaerobic bacteria and was associated with decreased activities of several brush border marker enzymes and, in 2 dogs, with partial villous atrophy in the jejunum. Changes in the jejunal mucosa of the remaining dogs (with either no overgrowth or overgrowth of aerobic bacteria alone) were characterized by increased activities of some brush border disaccharides and of lysosomal hydrolases. One dog was euthanatized without treatment, at the owner's request. The response of 4 of the remaining 10 dogs treated with enzyme replacement alone was poor or suboptimal, and all of these 4 dogs had bacterial overgrowth. One of these dogs had an excellent clinical response when also given oxytetracycline orally for 14 days, but the other 3 dogs did not improve further in response to the same treatment. It was concluded that bacterial overgrowth in the duodenum is common in dogs with EPI and that, when such overgrowth includes large numbers of obligate anaerobes, there may be associated biochemical and morphologic abnormalities in jejunal mucosa. Functional disturbances related to abnormal intestinal microflora may be responsible for the failure of some dogs with EPI to respond fully to oral pancreatic enzyme supplementation without antibiotic therapy.

Animals↗

Sequential morphologic and biochemical studies of naturally occurring wheat-sensitive enteropathy in Irish setter dogs.

This study has investigated the potential role of wheat in the pathogenesis of a naturally occurring enteropathy in Irish setter dogs. At eight months on a cereal-containing diet, jejunal biopsies from affected animals exhibited partial villus atrophy, increased intraepithelial lymphocytes, and distinct biochemical abnormalities in the brush border. Activities of alkaline phosphatase and leucyl-2-naphthylamidase were almost undetectable while disaccharidases were unaltered. Activity of 5'-nucleotidase (basolateral membrane) was low, and reduced malate dehydrogenase reflected a loss of mitochondrial activity, but other organelles were unaffected. Recovery was achieved on a wheat-free diet. Relapse on subsequent wheat challenge was characterized by partial villus atrophy and a selective effect on the brush border: modal density was decreased and there was a severe loss of brush-border alkaline phosphatase activity. These findings document a wheat-sensitive enteropathy in Irish setter dogs and suggest that brush-border alkaline phosphatase is specifically susceptible to damage by wheat.

5'-Nucleotidase↗