The Effect of Probiotic on Constipation in Rats

  • Kim, Jin-Hee (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University) ;
  • Park, Sung-Chul (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University) ;
  • Kim, Jong-Yeon (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University) ;
  • Park, Yoon-Ki (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University)
  • Published : 2009.12.30

Abstract

Background : Constipation is one of the most common disorders in Korea and Western countries. It may be related with life style, diet, physical activity, age, stress and gender, and particularly premenopausal women experience constipation more often than men due to the significant prolongation of the mean colonic transit in women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a probiotic on constipation in loperamide-induced constipated rats. Materials and Methods : The rats were divided into 3 groups. Constipation was induced by administration of loperamide for 5 days, and the excreted amount as well as the number of feces was observed. Lactic acid bacteria as a probiotic were administered orally every day for 5 days. Results : The results showed that loperamide administration induced severe experimental constipation in rats. The amount of feces was decreased and the number of pellets was increased by loperamide. The water content in the feces as a parameter of constipation was also decreased by loperamide. On the other hand, the dry weights of feces were not significantly different among the groups. It represents that the amount of food consumption might have been similar among the groups, and constipation was caused by delayed intestinal movement. Conclusion : Probiotic administration for 5 days in rats partly alleviated or prevented the constipation induced by loperamide.

변비는 우리나라나 서구국가에서 가장 흔한 질환중의 하나로서 생활 습관, 식이, 육체적 활동, 스트레스등과 밀접한 관련이 있다고 한다. 그리고 가임기의 여성에서 남성보다 빈도가 높으며 그 이유는 여성호르몬에 의한 대장운동성 저하때문이라고 한다. 본 연구는 로페라미드 투여에 의한 변비 쥐에서 프로바이오틱스가 장운동과 변비에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위하여 시행되었다. 로페라미드 투여는 쥐에서 변량은 감소시킨 대신에 변 pellet수는 증가시켰다. 변의 수분함량은 로페라미드 투여에 의하여 감소하였으나 건조 변량은 실험군간의 유의한 차이는 없었다. 따라서 로페라미드는 장 운동 감소에 의하여 변비를 유발하는 것으로 생각되었다. 프로바이오틱스의 투여는 로페라미드에 의하여 발생한 장 운동 저하와 변비를 완화시켜 주는 것으로 나타났다. 이상의 결과로 미루어 보아 프로바이오틱은 로페라미드에 의한 장 운동 감소 및 변비발생을 예방 또는 치료해 줄수 있는 것으로 생각되었다.

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