EFFECT OF ENDOTOXIN ON CANINE GASTROINTESTINAL MOTILITY AND TRANSIT

Ileus is common during sepsis; however, the etiology of this gastroint estinal dysmotility is unclear. The aim of our study was to determine the effects of a single, sublethal dose of endotoxin on canine gastroi ntestinal motility, gastric emptying, gastric acid secretion, and colo nic transit. Six dogs underwent placement of manometric catheters in t he stomach and small bowel and insertion of a gastric and a cecal cann ula. After the animals recovered, fasting and fed gastrointestinal mot ility was recorded, and gastric emptying and colonic transit were stud ied with nonabsorbable liquid and solid markers, respectively. Followi ng completion of baseline studies, each dog was given a single dose of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (200 mu g/kg intravenously) and t he studies were repeated on Postendotoxin Days 1-3. The single bolus o f endotoxin abolished the migrating motor complexes, decreased the fas ting motility index, decreased hydrogen ion output, slowed liquid gast ric emptying, and prolonged colonic transit for 2 days. Gastrointestin al motility and transit returned to baseline on Postendotoxin Day 3. I n conclusion, a single, sublethal dose of endotoxin temporarily disrup ts fasting and postprandial canine gastrointestinal motility and trans it. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.