The human colonic microflora influences the alterations of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes by catechins in male F344 rats.

As other xenobiotics, polyphenols are metabolized both by the endogenous detoxication system and the gut microflora. We hypothesized that the presence of a gut microflora may account for the effect of catechins on phase I and II xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and that the human bacterial metabolites may be different from those of a rodent gut microflora. Therefore, the effects of 2% (+)-catechin or 2% (-)-epicatechin were studied in germ free (GF) rats and rats inoculated with the flora of a human volunteer (HFA).

Variations in digestive physiology of rats after short duration flights aboard the US space shuttle.

The purpose of this work was to assess the influence of microgravity on several endogenous and microbial parameters of digestive physiology. On the occasion of two Spacelab Life Sciences missions, SLS-1 (a 9-day space flight) and SLS-2 (a 14-day space flight), Sprague-Dawley rats flown aboard the US space shuttle were compared to age-matched ground-based controls. In both flights, exposure to microgravity modified cecal fermentation: concentration and profile of short-chain fatty acids were altered, whereas urea and ammonia remained unchanged.

Effects of the bacterial status of rats on the changes in some liver cytochrome P450 (EC 1.14.14.1) apoproteins consequent to a glucosinolate-rich diet.

The aim of the present work was to investigate the influence of the intestinal microflora on the changes in hepatic cytochrome P450 apoproteins induced by dietary glucosinolates. Ten rats harbouring a conventional digestive microflora were offered either a diet containing 390 g myrosinase-free rapeseed meal/kg (n 5) or a control diet devoid of glucosinolates (n 5). A similar trial was performed using germ-free rats.

The bioavailability of alpha- and beta-carotene is affected by gut microflora in the rat.

The present study examined whether the intestinal microflora could affect the bioavailability and vitamin A activity of dietary alpha- and beta-carotene in the rat. In the first set of experiments, we used conventional, germ-free (axenic), and human-flora-associated (heteroxenic) rats. In a second series, conventional rats were treated with either an antibiotic mixture or a potent inhibitor of gastric secretion (Omeprazole).

Modulation of the biological effects of glucosinolates by inulin and oat fibre in gnotobiotic rats inoculated with a human whole faecal flora.

The influence of dietary fibre on the biological effects of glucosinolates was investigated in gnotobiotic rats harbouring a human whole faecal flora. Animals were fed for 6 wk with diets containing 12% rapeseed meal (RSM) supplemented or not supplemented with 10% inulin (INL) or oat fibre. Both fibre types enhanced the liver hypertrophy due to RSM to equal extents, but had different effects on the other glucosinolate-related toxic effects.

[Digestive amines of bacterial origin and behavior disorders. Apropos of a case].

Implication of amines in central nervous system diseases such as migraine, Parkinson disease, epilepsy and depressive illness, is well established. On an other hand, intestinal flora is responsible for the production of specific metabolites such as amines, particularly histamine, tyramine, putrescine and cadaverine. These amines can be absorbed in situ and, through unknown mechanisms, may affect the host's behavior.

Hepatic cytochrome P450 and UDP-glucuronosyl transferase are affected by five sources of dietary fiber in germ-free rats.

The influence of dietary fiber on xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes (XME) was assessed using germ-free rats fed inulin and other sources of fiber (wheat bran, carrot, cocoa and oat). The consumption of cocoa fiber greatly modified the hepatic cytochrome P450 isoenzymatic profile, causing a strong enhancement of 1A2 and 2B1/B2 forms, concomitant with a significant decrease of the constitutive form 2C11, compared with all of the other types of fiber. Moreover, rats fed the cocoa fiber diet had a higher specific activity of hepatic UDP-glucuronosyl transferase than their carrot fiber- and wheat bran-fed counterparts.

Comparative study of the fermentative characteristics of inulin and different types of fibre in rats inoculated with a human whole faecal flora.

It is known that the physico-chemical characteristics of fibre modify their fermentation characteristics in the colon. Previously we showed the varying effects of inulin and different types of fibre on the hepatic and intestinal xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes (XME) in initially germ-free rats inoculated with a human, methanogenic, whole-faecal flora (Roland et al. 1994).

Hepatic and intestinal cytochrome P-450, glutathione-S-transferase and UDP-glucuronosyl transferase are affected by six types of dietary fiber in rats inoculated with human whole fecal flora.

The effects of six different sources of dietary fiber (inulin, wheat brain, carrot, cocoa, pea and oat fiber) on hepatic and intestinal cytochrome P-450 (EC 1.14.14.

Alterations of the hepatic xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes by a glucosinolate-rich diet in germ-free rats: influence of a pre-induction with phenobarbital.

Germ-free growing rats were fed on a glucosinolate-rich diet (rapeseed-meal-based) and compared with counterparts fed on a glucosinolate-free diet (soya-bean-meal-based), both diets being isonitrogenous and isoenergetic. For each diet half the animals received phenobarbital in drinking water as an inducer of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes. Some of the usual deleterious glucosinolate-linked effects, i.

Rape-seed meal toxicity in gnotobiotic rats: influence of a whole human faecal flora or single human strains of Escherichia coli and Bacteroides vulgatus.

Gnotobiotic growing rats harbouring either a whole human faecal flora or single human strains of Escherichia coli (EM0) or Bacteroides vulgatus (BV8H1) were fed for 7 weeks on semi-synthetic diets in which the protein source was either soya-bean meal (SM) or rape-seed meal (RM). For each bacterial status the RM-diet group was compared with the control group fed on the SM diet. The association of human faecal flora with the RM diet was responsible for reduced feed intake and reduced weight gain, an enlargement of the liver and thyroid and a decrease in both thyroxine and triiodothyronine plasma levels.

Glucosinolates toxicity in growing rats: interactions with the hepatic detoxification system.

1. Glucosinolate-rich diet (RM) in growing rats increased liver (a), kidneys (b), and thyroid (c) weights and depleted feed intake (d), growth curve (e) and T4 and T3 plasma levels (f). 2.

[In vitro and in vivo production of amines by a Lactobacillus strain isolated from a cock crop].

The chicken digestive tract is mainly colonized by bacteria belonging to the Lactobacillus genus. One of these strains (LEM-207) isolated from the crop of a cock and closely resembling L. acidophilus, was able to develop on a carbohydrate-free medium.