EFFECT OF DIETARY RIBONUCLEIC-ACID ON BACTERIAL TRANSLOCATION AND SURVIVAL FOLLOWING BLOOD-TRANSFUSION AND THERMAL-INJURY

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) has been shown to have a key role in the mainte nance of normal cellular function and host resistance to infection. Th e effect of experimental diets containing RNA on microbial translocati on, killing of translocated bacteria and the survival rate of the host was studied in a burn animal model which included immunosuppression. Balb/c mice were fed for 10 days with an RNA supplemented diet (AlN/76 A). Control groups were fed with two commercial diets: AlN-76A or Puri na chow 5001 (chow). After 10 days of feeding, all animals received an allogenic transfusion. On day 15 the animals were gavaged with 10(10) C-14 radiolabeled or unlabeled Escherichia coli, and given a 20% tota l body surface area (TBSA) burn injury. Animals gavaged with unlabeled bacteria were observed for survival (n = 60) and animals gavaged with labeled bacteria were sacrificed 4 h post-burn (n = 30) and the mesen teric lymph nodes, liver and spleen were harvested. Slightly less tran slocation was observed in the liver and spleen of animals fed on RNA d iet. Bacterial counts were measured and the percentages of translocate d organisms that survived in the tissues were calculated and showed no statistical differences between the three groups. Survival was 45% in RNA group versus 55% in the non-supplemented AlN-76A and 50% in the c how group. It is concluded that a diet enriched in RNA slightly affect s bacterial translocation but does not affect survival after severe in jury.