Saccharomyces boulardii does not stimulate mucosal hyperplasia after intestinal resection in the rat

Background: Polyamines have been shown to be important regulators of the in testinal adaptation process after massive bowel resection. Saccharomyces bo ulardii is yeast that has the ability to synthesize polyamines. Therefore, S. boulardii may be useful in the treatment of short bowel syndrome. Methods: Twenty 150-g male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 80% jejuno ileal resection. Another 20 animals received transection and closure and se rved as pair fed controls. One half of the resected rats and one half of th e controls were given S. boulardii 25 mg/day. Results: After 2 weeks, mucosal mass (mg/cm bowel) did not differ between t reated and non-treated animals despite the presence of a marked resection e ffect. Mucosal DNA, protein, and sucrase activity likewise did not differ. Subsequently, the experiment was repeated four times the original dose (100 mg/day) and found comparable results. In the proximal bowel, mucosal mass was 92 +/- 6 mg/cm in treated animals versus 107 +/- 8 mg/cm in untreated r ats. In the distal small bowel, comparable values were 85 +/- 5 mg/cm and 8 8 +/- 4 mg/cm. Again, mucosal DNA, protein, and sucrase activity levels par alleled these results. Conclusions: Although S, boulardii may stimulate polyamine synthesis, it do es not seem to be helpful in augmenting gut adaptation in this animal model of share bowel syndrome.