Disposition of 14C-α-cyclodextrin in germ-free and conventional rats

The absorption, disposition, metabolism, and excretion of uniformly 14C-labeled α-cyclodextrin (14C-α-CD) was examined in four separate experiments with Wistar rats. In Experiment 1, 14C-α-CD (25μCi, 50mg/kg bw) was administered intravenously to four male and four female conventional rats. In Experiment 2, 14C-α-CD (25μCi, 200mg/kg bw) was given...

A human flora-associated rat model of the breast-fed infant gut

Objectives: Bacterial colonization of the infant gut may have important influences on the development of gastrointestinal, respiratory, and allergic disease. Early diet is a major determinant of the gut microflora. It is very difficult to carry out studies in human infants that can investigate the interaction of diet, flora, and mucosa. In this...

Effect of viscosity on digestion of nutrients in conventional and germ-free chicks

A study was conducted with conventional and germ-free broiler chicks to obtain more information on the role of the intestinal microflora in the anti-nutritive effects of NSP in broiler chicks. As the NSP source, highly methylated citrus pectin (HMC) was used at a dose level of 30 g/kg in a maize-based diet. The diets fed to the germ-free chicks...

Disposition of [14C]γ-cyclodextrin in germ-free and conventional rats

The absorption, disposition, metabolism, and excretion of 14C-labeled γ-cyclodextrin ([14C]γ-CD) was examined in four separate experiments with Wistar rats. In experiment 1, [14C]γ-CD (25 μCi, 600 mg/kg body wt) was administered intravenously to four male and four female conventional rats. In experiment 2, [14C]γ- CD (25 μCi, 1000 mg/kg body wt)...

Disposition of 14C-erythritol in germfree and conventional rats

The metabolism and disposition of U-14C-erythritol was examined in four groups of three male and three female, nonfasted rats each. The rats of groups A and D were germfree; the rats of groups B and C were kept under conventional conditions. The rats of group B received an erythritol-supplemented diet for 3 weeks prior to the experiment (adapted...

The involvement of the intestinal microflora in the expansion of CD4+ T cells with a naive phenotype in the periphery

It is well known that immune reactivity declines with age. Recently, we demonstrated that the age-related decrease in IL-2 production by CD4+ T cells was accompanied by an increased production of IL-4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). This age-related shift in the profile of lymphokine production was related to phenotypic changes within the CD4+...

Reconventionalization following antibiotic decontamination in man and animals

Antibiotic decontamination of the digestive tract can suppress or eliminate all microorganisms in this tract that are sensitive to the antibiotics used for decontamination. Experimental work in animals has indicated that colonization resistance (CR) decreases to extremely low values during decontamination as a result of the suppression of the...

The production of "bacteria-free" mice. Relationship between fecal flora and bacterial population of the skin

In mice, after a few days of oral treatment with antibiotics which are minimally absorbed, the bacterial fecal flora is eliminated. In the course of such treatment, the bacterial population of the skin becomes drastically reduced. After 9 weeks, cultures from the skin of the back are negative. Following 12 weeks of treatment, about 50% of the...