Intestinal adherent bacteria and bacterial translocation in breast-fed and formula-fed rats in relation to susceptibility to infection.

The barrier function of the intestinal mucosa is immature in the newborn mammal, and is strengthened by breast milk. We investigated this effect of breast milk by comparing the susceptibility to infection assessed in terms of adherent bacterial colonization of the intestinal tissue (AdC) and bacterial translocation (BT) between breast-fed and formula-fed newborn rats. Three-day-old rat pups were assigned to one of three groups: mother-reared (MR), pseudo-cannulated (sham), and artificially reared (AR). AR rats were infused with formula through an intragastric cannula, under the control of a computer-regulated pumping machine. MR and sham rat pups were reared with their respective dams and received breast milk until weaning in a specially designed cage. In 10-d-old rats, there was no significant difference in the fecal or cecal flora between the AR and MR groups, whereas the AdC and the BT to the liver were greater in the AR than MR group. Enterobacteriaceae, Streptococcus and/or Enterococcus, and Staphylococcus were dominantly detected as microorganisms in AdC flora and BT. The AdC flora did not directly reflect the bacterial colonization flora. These findings suggest that AR rat pups mature normally, although there is a greater colonization of Enterobacteriaceae and BT in AR than MR pups. Consequently, the intestinal barrier function of the pups reared by artificial feeding may become susceptible to BT, and AdC may be more indicative than bacterial colonization of the susceptibility to BT.