The prophylactic and protective effects of egg yolk immunoglobulin against Escherichia coli on radiation-induced enteritis in rats

Objective To observe the prophylactic and protective effects of egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY)against Escherichia coli on radiation\|induced enteritis in rats. Methods Thirty rats were randomly divided into three groups:normal control group (group A),radiation control group (group B) and IgY treatment group (group C).The rats of groups B and C were subjected to whole abdominal irradiation of 1 000 cGy.Feeding IgY began since the day before irradiation in group C.Four days later,all the rats were killed and the intestinal bacteria translocation,the concentration of endotoxin in blood,and pathological changes of intestinal mucosa were measured or observed. Results Bacteria translocation was not found in group A,but evident in group B(96 7%),and much lighter in group C(13 3%) than in group B.The concentration of endotoxin in blood was very low in group A (0 001 EU/ml) and very high in group B (0 829 EU/ml),but it was much lower in group C(0 249 EU/ml) than in group B.The villus edema,infiltration of inflammatory cells in mucosa and epithelial desquamation were found in group B,but these pathological changes were much milder in group C and not found at all in group A. Conclusion Whole abdomen irradiation will evidently cause enteritis in rats,and followed by bacteria translocation and endotoxinemia;IgY against Escherichia coli can diminish these changes.\;