Faculty Collaboration Database

A conscious mouse model of gastric ileus using clinically relevant endpoints. BMC Gastroenterol 2005 Jun 06;5:18

Date

06/09/2005

Pubmed ID

15938756

Pubmed Central ID

PMC1177942

DOI

10.1186/1471-230X-5-18

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-25444457285 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   11 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Gastric ileus is an unsolved clinical problem and current treatment is limited to supportive measures. Models of ileus using anesthetized animals, muscle strips or isolated smooth muscle cells do not adequately reproduce the clinical situation. Thus, previous studies using these techniques have not led to a clear understanding of the pathophysiology of ileus. The feasibility of using food intake and fecal output as simple, clinically relevant endpoints for monitoring ileus in a conscious mouse model was evaluated by assessing the severity and time course of various insults known to cause ileus.

METHODS: Delayed food intake and fecal output associated with ileus was monitored after intraperitoneal injection of endotoxin, laparotomy with bowel manipulation, thermal injury or cerulein induced acute pancreatitis. The correlation of decreased food intake after endotoxin injection with gastric ileus was validated by measuring gastric emptying. The effect of endotoxin on general activity level and feeding behavior was also determined. Small bowel transit was measured using a phenol red marker.

RESULTS: Each insult resulted in a transient and comparable decrease in food intake and fecal output consistent with the clinical picture of ileus. The endpoints were highly sensitive to small changes in low doses of endotoxin, the extent of bowel manipulation, and cerulein dose. The delay in food intake directly correlated with delayed gastric emptying. Changes in general activity and feeding behavior were insufficient to explain decreased food intake. Intestinal transit remained unchanged at the times measured.

CONCLUSION: Food intake and fecal output are sensitive markers of gastric dysfunction in four experimental models of ileus. In the mouse, delayed gastric emptying appears to be the major cause of the anorexic effect associated with ileus. Gastric dysfunction is more important than small bowel dysfunction in this model. Recovery of stomach function appears to be simultaneous to colonic recovery.

Author List

Firpo MA, Rollins MD, Szabo A, Gull JD, Jackson JD, Shao Y, Glasgow RE, Mulvihill SJ

Author

Aniko Szabo PhD Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Blood Pressure
Consciousness
Defecation
Disease Models, Animal
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Eating
Endotoxins
Gastric Emptying
Gastric Outlet Obstruction
Gastrointestinal Transit
Lipopolysaccharides
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred C3H
Motor Activity
Time Factors