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Effects of Giardia lamblia Infection on Gastrointestinal Transit and Contractility in Mongolian Gerbils

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Abstract

To determine if Giardia lamblia infection isassociated with altered gastrointestinal transit andsmooth muscle contractile function, Mongolian gerbilswere infected orogastrically with 2 ×105 trophozoites (infected) or vehicle (uninfected controls). Atthe time of peak colonization, control and infectedanimals were infused either orogastrically orintraduodenally with 51Cr. Gastric emptyingof isotope and intestinal transit (measured by the geometriccenter of distribution of intestinal 51Crtransit) were significantly (P < 0.05) greater in theinfected compared to control animals in both the fastedand the fed states. Then, to determine whether Giardialamblia has an effect on the contractility oflongitudinal and circular smooth muscle, isometrictension of jejunal segments was recorded. Thedevelopment of active tension with stretch and thedose-response curve to bethanechol were significantlyincreased in the longitudinal muscle of infected animalscompared to controls. However, the circular smoothmuscle did not show a similar increase incontractility. These findings suggest that an alteredgastrointestinal transit and smooth muscle contractilitymay be involved in the pathophysiology ofgiardiasis.

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Authors
  1. L. P. Deselliers
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  2. D. T. M. Tan
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  3. R. B. Scott
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  4. M. E. Olson
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Deselliers, L.P., Tan, D.T.M., Scott, R.B. et al. Effects of Giardia lamblia Infection on Gastrointestinal Transit and Contractility in Mongolian Gerbils. Dig Dis Sci 42, 2411–2419 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018879621272

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