BACKGROUND

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may cause severe injury to all parts of the gastrointestinal tract. It has been hypothesised that probiotic bacteria might reduce this adverse effect. The aim of this study was to perform a morphometric evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract in experimental pigs treated using a 10-day high-dose of indomethacin with or without Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN).

METHODS

Twenty-four healthy mature pigs were included: Group A (controls; 6 animals), Group B (EcN; n = 6), Group C (indomethacin; n = 6) and Group D (EcN & indomethacin; n = 6). EcN (3.5 × 10(10) live bacteria/day for 14 days) and/or indomethacin (15 mg/kg/day for 10 days) were administered. Specimens of the stomach, small and large bowel were routinely processed for microscopic examination. The height of glandular mucosa, height and width of interfoveolar spaces and villi and basement size of epithelial cells were evaluated.

RESULTS

Different effects of indomethacin and EcN on particular parts of the gastrointestinal tract were shown. The indomethacin and probiotics group demonstrated a significantly lower height of cryptal mucosa and colonocytes and widening of the basement size of colonocytes compared to controls (p = 0.004; p < 0.001; p = 0.025). The height of cryptal mucosa was significantly higher in the EcN group compared to controls (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Indomethacin alone induced marked adaptation of the gastric mucosa. EcN alone provided a significant favourable trophic effect on the colonic mucosa. However, indomethacin and probiotics administered together comprise the worst impact on all porcine stomach, small and large bowel.