Effects of Biliary Diversion on Intestinal Microflora in the Rat

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Abstract
Certain bile acids inhibit the growth in vitro of organisms commonly found in the intestine and, in particular, anaerobic bacteria. As the importance of this effect in vivo was not demonstrated, changes in intestinal flora in the rat after diversion of bile to the urinary bladder were studied. Five days after operation there was an increase in numbers of Proteus sp. in the stomach, mid-jejunum and cecum and of coliform bacilli in the stomach and mid-jejunum. Lactobacilli were increased in the stomach. There was no change in numbers of anaerobic organisms. Similar changes in bacterial flora followed 5 days of pair feeding in control rats. A specific antibacterial effect of bile salts in the rat in vivo was not suggested. The changes found are probably related to semi-starvation, for the food intake of the rats after operation was about half that of control rats having an unrestricted diet.

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