Experimental obstructive jaundice alters claudin-4 expression in intestinal mucosa: effect of bombesin and neurotensin.

Aim: To investigate the influence of experimental obstructive jaundice and exogenous bombesin (BBS) and neurotensin (NT) administration on the expression of the tight junction (TJ)-protein claudin-4 in intestinal epithelium of rats.

Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: I = controls, II = sham operated, III = bile duct ligation (BDL), IV = BDL+BBS (30 microg/kg per d), V = BDL+NT (300 microg/kg per d). At the end of the experiment on d 10, endotoxin was measured in portal and aortic blood.

Experimental obstructive jaundice disrupts intestinal mucosal barrier by altering occludin expression: beneficial effect of bombesin and neurotensin.

Background: Little is known of the molecular events leading to increased intestinal permeability in obstructive jaundice. This study was undertaken to investigate the influence of experimental obstructive jaundice on the expression of the tight junction-associated protein occludin in the intestinal epithelium.

Study Design: Seventy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: I, controls; II, sham-operated; III, bile duct ligation (BDL); IV, BDL+Bombesin (BBS) (30 microg/kg/d); and V, BDL+Neurotensin (NT) (300 microg/kg/d).