Background/Aims
NSAIDs induce gut damage throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract and bacterial translocation. The aim of this study was to exam the change of NSAID induced gut damage, enteric bacterial overgrowth, bacterial translocation and organ weight in the animals. Methods: Rats were utilized in 4 group; control group, diclofenac 60 mg/kg group, diclofenac 120 mg/kg group and diclofenac 60 mg/kg group. Gut injury was induced by oral administration of a single dose of diclofenac. Intestinal permeability (24 hour urinary excretion of pheonolsulfonphthalein), intestinal adhesion and number of stool pallet were measured to evaluate gut injury. Enteric aerobic total and gram negative bacterial counts in distal ileum and cecum were measured to evaluate enteric bacterial overgrowth. Bacterial counts of gram negatives in mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen, kidney and heart were measured to evaluate bacterial translocation. Also, the organ weight change of liver, spleen, kidney and heart was measured. Results: Diclofenac caused the increase in intestinal permeability, intestinal adhesion, enteric bacterial numbers, bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen, kidney and heart and hepatomegaly, and the decrease in numbers of stool pellet. Conclusions: Diclofenac induced gut damage, enteric bacterial overgrowth, bacterial translocation and hepatomegaly. (Intestinal Research 2006;4:45-52)