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Infection and Immunity, October 1998, p. 4917-4923, Vol. 66, No. 10
0019-9567/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Effects of Orally Administered Epidermal Growth Factor on Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Infection in Rabbits

Andre Buret,1,* Merle E. Olson,2 D. Grant Gall,2 and James A. Hardin2

Department of Biological Sciences1 and Gastrointestinal Research Group,2 University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4

Received 10 March 1998/Returned for modification 15 June 1998/Accepted 21 July 1998

The increased intestinal absorption induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) is associated with diffuse lengthening of brush border microvilli. The aim of this study was to examine the in vivo effects of oral administration of EGF during infection with enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. New Zealand White rabbits (4 weeks old) received orogastric EGF daily starting 3 days prior to infection with enteropathogenic E. coli RDEC-1 and were compared with sham-treated infected animals and uninfected controls. Weight gain, food intake, fecal E. coli, and stool consistency were assessed daily. On day 10, segments of jejunum, ileum, proximal, and distal colon were assessed for gram-negative bacterial colonization, disaccharidase activities, and epithelial ultrastructure. Effects of EGF on E. coli RDEC-1 proliferation were studied in vitro. E. coli RDEC-1 caused diarrhea and reduced weight gain. Seven days postinfection, the small and large intestines were colonized with numerous bacteria, brush border microvilli were disrupted, and maltase and sucrase activities were significantly reduced in the jejunum. Daily treatment with EGF prevented the occurrence of diarrhea and reduction of weight gain. These effects were associated with significant inhibition of E. coli colonization in the small and large intestine, improved jejunal maltase and sucrase activities and reduced microvillous injury. EGF did not affect the proliferation of E. coli in vitro. The findings suggest that EGF protects the gastrointestinal tract against colonization by enteropathogenic E. coli.


* Corresponding author. Mailing address: University of Calgary, Dept. of Biological Sciences, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 1N4. Phone: (403) 220-2817. Fax: (403) 289-9311. E-mail: aburet{at}acs.ucalgary.ca.


Infection and Immunity, October 1998, p. 4917-4923, Vol. 66, No. 10
0019-9567/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.



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