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The distal colon provides reserve storage capacity during colonic fluid overload.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: In addition to its absorptive function the capacity of the colon to retain fluid might be relevant in compensating for increased fluid loads and prevention of diarrhoea. The distal colon is considered to be mainly a conduit without extensive storage function. AIMS: To evaluate colonic volume capacity in a model of pure osmotic diarrhoea. METHODS: A non-absorbable, iso-osmotic solution (OS) containing polyethylene glycol (500 ml) was infused into the caecum of nine healthy volunteers; the control group (n = 5) received an equal amount of an easily absorbable electrolyte solution (ES). Fluids were radiolabelled with technetium-99m and gamma camera images were obtained for 48 hours. Counts in the proximal and distal colon were measured and regional and overall colonic transit and stool output were quantified. RESULTS: After OS, in contrast to ES, faecal output was increased significantly (p < 0.05), but colonic transit after OS was not different from transit after ES (p > 0.05). This indicates storage of OS in the colon: after OS infusion, counts in the proximal colon decreased linearly while the distal colon stored approximately 30% of radioactivity for the whole 48 hour study period. After OS, stool output correlated with distal (p < 0.01), but not with proximal (p > 0.05), colonic transit. In contrast, after ES, stool output was determined by proximal colonic transit (p < 0.05) but not by transit through the distal colon (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The distal colon retains non-absorbable fluid volumes extensively. In our model transit through the distal colon--but not the proximal colon--determined the time at which diarrhoea occurred.

SUBMITTER: Hammer J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1891583 | biostudies-other | 1997 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Project description:BackgroundRecovery after colonic surgery is invariably delayed by disturbed gut motility. It is commonly assumed that colonic motility becomes quiescent after surgery, but this hypothesis has not been evaluated rigorously. This study quantified colonic motility through the early postoperative period using high-resolution colonic manometry.MethodsFibre-optic colonic manometry was performed continuously before, during and after surgery in the left colon and rectum of patients undergoing right hemicolectomy, and in healthy controls. Motor events were characterized by pattern, frequency, direction, velocity, amplitude and distance propagated.ResultsEight patients undergoing hemicolectomy and nine healthy controls were included in the study. Colonic motility became markedly hyperactive in all operated patients, consistently dominated by cyclic motor patterns. Onset of cyclic motor patterns began to a minor extent before operation, occurring with increasing intensity nearer the time of surgery; the mean(s.d.) active duration was 12(7) per cent over 3 h before operation and 43(17) per cent within 1 h before surgery (P = 0.024); in fasted controls it was 2(4) per cent (P < 0·001). After surgery, cyclic motor patterns increased markedly in extent and intensity, becoming nearly continuous (active duration 94(13) per cent; P < 0·001), with peak frequency 2-4 cycles per min in the sigmoid colon. This postoperative cyclic pattern was substantially more prominent than in non-operative controls, including in the fed state (active duration 27(20) per cent; P < 0·001), and also showed higher antegrade velocity (P < 0·001).ConclusionDistal gut motility becomes markedly hyperactive with colonic surgery, dominated by cyclic motor patterns. This hyperactivity likely represents a novel pathophysiological aspect of the surgical stress response. Hyperactive motility may contribute to gut dysfunction after surgery, potentially offering a new therapeutic target to enhance recovery.

Project description:Accelerated loss of adipose tissue in cancer is associated with shorter survival, and reduced quality of life. Evidence is emerging suggesting tumour association with alterations in adipose tissue, but much less is known about drug-related mechanisms contributing to adipose atrophy. Identification of mechanisms by which tumour and cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, affect adipose tissue are required to develop appropriate therapeutic interventions to prevent fat depletion in cancer. This pre-clinical study aimed to assess alterations in adipose tissue during the clinical course of cancer.Fischer 344 rats bearing the Ward colorectal tumour were euthanized before chemotherapy, after 1- cycle, or 2-cycles of a combination chemotherapy consisting of Irinotecan (CPT-11) combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which recapitulates first line treatment for human colorectal cancer. Periuterine adipose tissue was isolated. Healthy rats served as a reference group. Histological analysis (hematoxylin and eosin), Real-time PCR (TaqMan) and proteomic analysis (LC-MS/MS) were performed.Larger adipocytes (3993.7?±?52.6 ?m2) in tumour-bearing animals compared to the reference group (3227.7?±?36.7 ?m2; p?<?0.001) was associated with reduced expression of proteins involved in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. The presence of a tumour has a significant effect on phospholipid but not triglyceride fatty acid composition. There were greater proportions of saturated fatty acids concurrent with lower monounsaturated fatty acids within the PL fraction of adipocytes in tumour-bearing animals. Chemotherapy treatment decreased the size of adipocytes (2243.9?±?30.4 ?m2; p?<?0.001) and led to depletion of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in adipose tissue triglyceride. Evaluation of the proteome profile revealed decreased expression of proteins involved in ATP generation, ?-oxidation, and lipogenesis. Overall, adipose tissue may not be able to efficiently oxidize fatty acids to provide energy to maintain energy demanding pathways like lipogenesis inside the tissue.In conclusion, metabolic adaptations to mitochondrial impairment may contribute to diminished lipid storage capacity of adipose tissue following chemotherapy delivery.

Project description:Aim To identify genes specifically involved in the storage reserve mobilisation programme in Arabidopsis. Background During germination and early post-germinative growth in Arabidopsis seed storage reserves are broken down to provide energy and nutrients for the developing seedling. Genes encoding enzymes involved in the mobilisation of both storage lipid and protein are expressed strongly 1-2 days following imbibition and then fall to very low levels. The regulatory mechanisms controlling expression of these genes are poorly understood. Although germination and reserve mobilisation occur at the same time we have obtained evidence using Abscisic Acid (ABA) treated seeds that the events are regulated by two separate programmes. Arabidopsis seeds treated with 10mM ABA still express genes involved in the mobilisation of storage reserves and break down storage lipid even though germination is blocked. ABA treated seeds therefore provide a powerful system for the identification of genes involved specifically in the reserve mobilisation programme. Microarray analysis will allow us to gain a global undertanding of the processes involved in storage reserve mobilisation and should also result in the identification of regulatory genes involved in this process. Experimental Set-up All seeds are Col-4 imbibed on plates containing 1/2 MS media for 4 days in the dark. All plant material will be grown in controlled environment growth rooms under defined light and temperature regimes. There are two parts to the experimental design. 1. Time course to identify genes involved in both seed storage reserve and germination programmes Comparison of mRNAs from seeds immediately after imbibition (storage reserve and germination programme genes being induced) with 2 day (storage reserve genes maximally expressed) and 7 day old seedlings (storage reserve and germination programme genes off, photoautotrophic genes on) will allow the identification of genes exclusively presentor present at enhanced levels at the peak of reserve mobilisation (day 2). 2. ABA treatment experiment to identify genes involved in the storage reserve programme ABA treatment blocks germination but does not block reserve mobilisation. Microarray analysis will be performed on RNA isolated from 2 day old seed imbibed in the presence of 10mM ABA. Comparison of the results of this experiment with those of the time course experiment should allow us to distinguish between genes involved in the two major programmes that we have uncovered. Keywords: development_or_differentiation_design

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The distal colon provides reserve storage capacity during colonic fluid overload.

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