Bacterial translocation from the gastrointestinal tract in various mouse models for human diabetes.

Bacterial translocation from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to other internal organs was examined in multiple low-dose streptozotocin-injected (M-STZ), single large-dose streptozotocin-injected (S-STZ), alloxan-injected (Alloxan), and non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. The incidence of bacterial translocation from the GI tract to the tested organs among diabetic mice was in the order of M-STZ mice greater than S-STZ mice greater than NOD, Alloxan, and control mice. The injections of insulin to M-STZ mice did not decrease the incidence of translocation. These results suggest that bacterial translocation from the GI tract in diabetic mice is not induced by diabetes.