Open AccessSalmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis induce gut growth and increase the polyamine content of the rat small intestine in vivo
Author(s) -
Naughton Patrick J.,
Grant George,
Ewen Stanley W.B.,
Spencer Richard J.,
Brown David S.,
Pusztai Arpad,
Bardocz Susan
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1995.tb00200.x
Subject(s) - biology , ileum , salmonella , salmonella enteritidis , crypt , microbiology and biotechnology , small intestine , gastrointestinal tract , in vivo , intestinal epithelium , epithelium , salmonella infection , spleen , polyamine , intestinal mucosa , cecum , immunology , bacteria , medicine , biochemistry , endocrinology , ecology , genetics
The effects of infection by Salmonella enteritidis and S. typhimurium on the small and large intestines, liver, spleen and mesenteric nodules of rats were studied in vivo. Both Salmonella serotypes persisted and proliferated in the gastrointestinal tract and invaded sub‐epithelial tissues, mainly the ileum, leading to the systemic distribution of these pathogens. Coincidental with the infection, the rate of crypt cell proliferation increased resulting in substantial growth of the small intestine. The extent of this and the accompanying accumulation of polyamines was particularly dramatic in the ileum where there was also some disruption of the villus epithelium. It is possible that these effects of the infection on the metabolism and morphology of the small bowel, which strongly resembled the changes induced by some plant lectins, may facilitate the colonisation and invasion of the gut by Salmonellae .