抄録
Lactobacilli are classed as one of the probiotic bacteria and have been reported to exhibit a marked effect on the immune response to infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-infection effect of heat-killed Lactobacillus casei (LC9018) in an experimental fecal peritonitis model in mice. Male ICR mice were injected intraperitoneally with LC9018 5, 3, and one day prior to cecum ligation and puncture (CLP) . Equivalent volumes of saline were used as controls. The following were compared between the two groups: survival rates, numbers of viable bacteria in the peritoneal fluid 6 hours after CLP, numbers of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) obtained from mice 24h after the final administration of LC9018 without CLP and also 6 hours after CLP, levels of NO in the peritoneal cavities 24h after the final injection of LC9018 without CLP. Survival of LC9018-treated mice (n=21) was significantly improved compared with the controls (n =19) . The numbers of total bacteria present in the peritoneal cavities in the LC9018-treated mice (n=9) were significantly less than those in the control mice (n=8) . The mean PEC counts and NO levels in the peritoneal fluids of the LC9018-treated mice (n=10 and 4, respectively) was significantly greater than in the control mice (n=8 and 4, respectively) . Pretreatment with LC9018 induced a protective activity against fecal peritonitis in a murine model, probably via the accumulation of PEC in the peritoneal cavity, which exert a bactericidal effect.
