Abstract
Measurement of fecal alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) excretion has been demonstrated to be a reliable, non-invasive test for protein-losing enteropathy in humans. The unique biologic properties of A1AT allow it to serve as a natural marker for loss of serum protein into the gut. Our laboratory has recently purified rat A1AT and raised antibody to rat A1AT. The biological and chemical characteristics of human and rat A1AT are very similar. We performed the following initial experiment to establish whether measurement of fecal A1AT also detects intestinal damage in rats. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were given either a single, intraperitoneal injection of 40 mg/kg of bleomycin or an equal volume injection of sterile saline. Bleomycin has known toxic effects upon the gastrointestinal tract. Stools were collected for 5 days following the injection and assayed for A1AT content by rocket immunoelectrophoresis. Mean fecal A1AT±SD (mg/g dry stool) are given below for each day following injection:
Our data indicate that intraperitoneal bleomycin resulted in elevated fecal A1AT excretion. Conclusions: 1) fecal A1AT is a useful marker for intestinal damage in rats, and 2) the toxic gastrointestinal effects of various drugs and treatments administered to rats can be monitored by fecal AlAT.
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Thomas, D., McGilligan, K. MODEL FOR PROTEIN-LOSING E.MTEROPATHY IN THE RAT. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 279 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00672
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00672
