Comparative Response of Normal and Cirrhotic Rats to Intravenously Injected Bacteria. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Labelled (I¹³¹) bacteria infused into portal vein of normal rats were promptly cleared and destroyed with release of ionic I¹³¹ and its prompt excretion into the urine. In cirrhotic rats the clearance process was normal, but capacity to destroy bacteria was impaired. This resulted in persistence of ingested bacteria and of “bacteria bound” radioactivity in liver, lung, and spleen, and continued reseeding of the blood stream from such foci.