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Effect of Intestinal Microflora on Age-associated Changes in Hepatic Xanthine Oxidase and in Bone Mineral Composition in Rats1

Bandaru S. Reddy2 and Morris Pollard

Lobund Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, and Program in Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556

Investigations were carried out to study the effect of intestinal microflora on hepatic xanthine oxidase activity and on Ca, P and Mg levels in bone during aging process in rats. Weanling germfree and conventional rats were fed a steam-sterilized diet, and the xanthine oxidase levels in liver and Ca, P and Mg levels in femur were determined at 30, 100, 400, 485, 540 and 800 days of age. Xanthine oxidase activity was lower in young and adult phases of life, and higher in later phases of life in germfree rats compared to the conventional animals. The presence of an intestinal microflora resulted in lower hepatic protein values in old rats. The levels of Ca, P and Mg in femur and its ash content were higher in germfree animals at all ages. It is concluded that the progressive age-associated biochemical changes in organs are attributable, in part, to the non-axenic environment of the host animal.

KEY WORDS: • intestinal microflora • aging • xanthine oxidase • bone minerals

1 Supported by Biomedical Science Support Grant no. FR 07033-05 and RR 00294 from the National Institutes of Health, and by the John A. Hartford Foundation.

2 Present address: Department of Nutritional Biochemistry, The American Health Foundation, 2 East End Avenue, New York, New York 10021.

Manuscript received 30 April 1971.




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