Changes of Intestinal Tight Junctions in Rat Ileums After Partial Hepatectomy

BackgroundIncreased intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation have been observed after partial hepatectomy (PH).MethodsRats (n = 40) were randomly divided into four groups: control; PH 1d, PH 3d and PH 5d. PH animals underwent two-thirds partial hepatectomy before sacrifice at 1, 3, or 5 days thereafter. The intestinal tight junction (TJ) morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Distribution of TJ protein occludin in lipid raft microdomains was examined using Western blot analysis.ResultsIntestinal TJ structures revealed significant changes at 1 day after PH that had partly recovered by 5 days. During this period, occludin protein decreased significantly in lipid raft microdomains, increasing partialy by 5 days.ConclusionPH induced disruption of TJ structures in rat ilea, which was associated with redistribution of occludin protein in lipid raft microdomains.