Effect of Short-term Fasting on the Methotrexate Induced Weight Changes and Bacterial Translocation in a Rat Model

Original Article

The Korean Journal of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research 2009;9(2):75-81.
Published online December 30, 2009.

백서에서 Methotrexate에 의하여 유발된 장기 무게 및 체중 변화와 장내세균전위에 대한 단기간 금식의 효과

김정욱ㆍ전우규*

중앙대학교 의과대학 내과학교실, 성균관대학교 의과대학 강북삼성병원 소화기내과학교실*

Abstract

Background/Aims
Methotrexate (MTX) induce body and organ weight loss and bacterial translocation (BT). Fasting cause weight loss and enteric bacterial overgrowth with increasing BT. We examined the effects of short term fasting on the MTX induced weight changes and BT. Methods: Rats were divided into 4 group (control group; MTX group; MTX with 24 hour fasting group; MTX with 72 hour fasting group). Rats with MTX received MTX 25 mg/kg orally. Intestinal permeability (IP) and fecal pellet output, bacterial numbers in distal ileal and cecal contents and the BT to mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), liver, spleen, kidney and heart, and body and organ weight changes were measured. Results: MTX administration caused body and liver weight loss regardless amounts of food intakes. MTX induced increasing IP, cecal gram negative undergrowth and BT to MLNs, liver and spleen, but did not change fecal pellet output. Additional fasting increased MTX induced body and liver weight loss and caused cecal gram negative overgrowth, but not influenced MTX induced increasing IP and BT. Conclusions: Short term fasting increased MTX induced body and liver weight loss, but not influenced MTX induced gut barrier dysfunction and BT despite of cecal gram negative overgrowth. (The Korean Journal of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research 2009;9:75-81)

Key Words: Methotrexate, Fasting, Weight loss, Bacterial translocation