Fv. Mortensen et al., Short-chain fatty acids stimulate mucosal cell proliferation in the closedhuman rectum after Hartmann's procedure, INT J COL R, 14(3), 1999, pp. 150-154
Hartmann's procedure in humans results in a closed rectum deprived of its n
atural short-chain fatty acid source. This induces atrophy of the entire re
ctal wall. Ki-67 is a monoclonal antibody directed towards proteins in the
cell nucleus that are present only during cell proliferation. This study in
vestigated the effects of short-chain fatty acids on mucosal cell prolifera
tion in the human rectum after Hartmann's procedure by means of Ki-67. Eigh
t patients in whom Hartmann's procedure was performed were treated with pla
cebo and then short-chain fatty acids for 14 days. Biopsies specimens were
taken from the rectum before and after treatment; these were prepared with
Ki-67 and labeling index was determined. The treatment was found significan
tly to increase proliferative activity in the rectal mucosa (P<0.01); the i
ncrease was principally in the middle (P<0.01) and upper crypt (P<0.05) com
partments.