Bacterial translocation and peptidoglycan translocation by acute ethanol administration.

BACKGROUND: We examined bacterial translocation (BT) by acute ethanol administration, using a peptidoglycan detecting system.
METHODS: Rats were given 20% (v/w) ethanol (10 ml/kg body weight), and heparinized samples of portal blood were collected at specific time points after administration. Plasma peptidoglycan, beta-glucan, and endotoxin concentrations of portal blood were measured. The rats were divided into three groups: a 20% ethanol group (20ET group), a 5% ethanol group (5ET group), and a control group. The groups were given 10 ml/kg body weight of either 20% (v/w) ethanol (20ET group), 5% (v/w) ethanol (5ET group), or distilled water (control group). Femoral arterial blood, portal blood, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), spleen, and liver were cultured to assess BT. Plasma peptidoglycan, beta-glucan, and endotoxin concentrations of femoral arterial blood and portal blood were measured.
RESULTS: The plasma peptidoglycan concentration of portal blood was significantly increased 24 h after the administration of 20% ethanol. There was no significant difference in the incidence and magnitude of viable BT to the MLNs, spleen, and liver among any of the groups at this time point. The rate of plasma peptidoglycan positivity and the plasma peptidoglycan concentration were increased significantly in the portal blood of the 20ET group 24 h after administration.
CONCLUSIONS: Peptidoglycan was translocated into the portal blood by acute administration of 20% ethanol. Our findings suggest that viable bacterial flora may translocate from the intestine under the influence of ethanol, and BT may be one of the causes of chronic alcoholic liver disease.