Lactulose feeding in piglets - A model for persistent diarrhea and colitisinduced by severe sugar malabsorption

We sought to determine, in a piglet model, whether severe sugar malabsorpti on causes colonic injury or inflammation. Twenty-four piglets were randomiz ed to receive either control formula (CON) or CON supplemented with lactulo se (LAC) (N = 12 each group). After seven days, inflammation, apoptosis, an d crypt cell proliferation were assessed in the proximal colon (cecum). Lac tulose feeding caused persistent diarrhea. In both groups, breath H-2 conce ntration was low, suggesting no increased fermentation in the LAC group, We ight gain/volume formula intake was identical in the CON and LAC groups (0. 09 +/- 0.13 and 0.09 +/- 0.11 g/ml) respectively. Injury to the colon did n ot occur, but inflammation of the colon (scale 0-5) was greater in LAC (sco re of 1.5 +/- 1.38) than in CON (0.42 +/- 0.79; P < 0.05). Cell proliferati on at the basal 40% of the crypt was 92% increased in CON (labeling index 2 2.8 +/- 9.9 vs 11.9 +/- 2.8; P < 0.05). We conclude that persistent feeding during severe sugar malabsorption permits weight gain but may cause coliti s.