Use of an orally administered combined sugar solution to evaluate intestinal absorption and permeability in cats

Objective-To evaluate intestinal permeability and absorption in healthy cat s in association with diet and normal intestinal microflora, Animals-6 healthy domestic shorthair cats, Procedure-A sugar solution containing D-xylose, 30-methyl-D-glucose, L-rham nose, lactulose, and Cr-51-EDTA was administered intragastrically to health y cats, and urinary excretion of ingested sugars was determined 5 hours aft er administration. After the same cats had received metronidazole for 1 mon th, the study was repeated. A final study was performed while cats were mai ntained on a new diet differing in composition and processing. Results-Lactulose-to-rhamnose ratios, reflecting intestinal permeability, w ere higher in cats, compared with values for humans or dogs, and Values obt ained before and after metronidazole administration (mean +/- SEM; before, 0.40 +/- 0.08; after, 0.45 +/- 0.09) were not significantly different. inte stinal absorption also was unaltered after antibiotic administration, and t he xylose-to-glucose ratio was 0.70 +/- 0.03 before and 0.71 +/- 0.06 after metronidazole administration. Sugar recovery did not differ significantly while cats were maintained on canned or dry food. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Reference ranges were established for th e percentage urinary recovery of orally administered D-xylose, 3-0-methyl-o glucose, L-rhamnose, lactulose, and Cr-51-EDTA obtained after 5 hours in he althy cats. The intestines of cats appear to be more permeable than those o f other species, although the normal bacterial microflora does not appear t o influence the integrity or function of the feline intestine, because valu es obtained for the measured variables before or after antibiotic administr ation were not significantly different. In addition, differences were not d etected when the diet was completely altered.