PROPIONIBACTERIA IN THE GUT - EFFECT ON SOME METABOLIC-ACTIVITIES OF THE HOST

The development of a dairy Propionibacterium and its establishment in the gut were studied. Mice fed a conventional diet received a suspensi on of propionibacteria in skim milk provided in their water bottles fo r 7 d. Counts of propionibacteria in faeces and intestinal sections in dicated that the strain used reached significant levels in the gut dur ing treatment. They remained in high number 1 week after cessation of the diet. Their permanence in the gut could be related to an adhesion onto the intestinal mucosae. The presence of these bacteria in the int estine favourably affected the lipid metabolism and the immune system of mice. The effect on the serum lipids level was evaluated after feed ing mice with 5 different diets, containing or not a supplementation o f milk cream and propionibacteria. Total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and tri glycerides were determined. The results showed that this strain tends to reverse the hyperlipemic effect of a diet with high lipid content. An increase both in the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages and in the phagocytic function of reticuloendothelial system was obser ved on the 7th d of feeding. The activity decreased when mice returned to a conventional diet. The data confirm that some strains of dairy p ropionibacteria can develop in the gut and exert beneficial effects on the host.