Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the efficacy of amphibian antimicrobial peptides in preventing bacterial translocation and neutralizing endotoxins in bile duct-ligated rats.

DESIGN:

Prospective, randomized, controlled animal study.

SETTING:

Research laboratory in a university hospital.

SUBJECTS:

Adult male Wistar rats.

INTERVENTIONS:

Adult male Wistar rats underwent sham operation or bile duct ligation (BDL). Eight groups were studied: sham operation with saline treatment, sham operation with 120 mg/kg tazobactam-piperacillin, sham operation with 2 mg/kg uperin 3.6, sham operation with 2 mg/kg magainin2, BDL with saline treatment, BDL with 120 mg/kg tazobactam-piperacillin, BDL with 2 mg/kg uperin 3.6, and BDL with 2 mg/kg magainin2.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

Main outcome measures were: endotoxin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations in plasma and evidence of bacterial translocation in blood, peritoneum, liver, and mesenteric lymph nodes. Endotoxin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha plasma levels were significantly higher in BDL rats compared with sham-operated animals. All amphibian peptides achieved a significant reduction of plasma endotoxin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentration when compared with saline- and tazobactam-piperacillin-treated groups. On the other hand, both tazobactam-piperacillin and peptides significantly reduced bacterial growth compared with the control. Tazobactam-piperacillin and magainin2 exerted the maximal inhibition of bacterial growth.

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, because of their multifunctional properties, amphibian peptides could be interesting compounds to inhibit bacterial translocation and endotoxin release in obstructive jaundice.