Oxygen consumption of rats with broad intestinal resection

The study was performed to investigate possible alterations in oxygen consu mption in an animal model with broad intestinal resection. Oxygen consumpti on and the thermal effect of a short meal were measured in rats subjected t o short bowel syndrome. Four groups of rats were used. Group I was the cont rol group, group II was sham operated, group III was submitted to 80% jejun um-ileum resection, and group TV was submitted to 80% jejunum-ileum resecti on with colon interposition. Ninety days after surgery, oxygen consumption was measured over a period of 6 h with the animals fasted overnight. The th ermal effect of feeding was determined in another session of oxygen consump tion measurement in animals fasted for 12 h. A 12-kcal meal was then introd uced into the animal chamber and oxygen consumption was measured for a furt her 4 h, No differences in fasting oxygen consumption or in the thermal eff ect of the meal were detected among the groups studied. It is concluded tha t short bowel syndrome does not affect the overall energy expenditure of ra ts.