Treatment of Experimental Acute Radiation Disease in Mice with Probiotics, Quinolones, and General Gnotobiological Isolation.

Abstract : The effect of ciprofloxacin, lomefloxacin, amikacin, and probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus 5/4, Bifidobacterium longum 44) on intestinal microflora, translocation, and mortality was studied in mice treated with 7.0 Gy radiation. Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, selected by in vitro and in vivo methods, increased survival parameters of the mice. The effect of lactobacilli was higher under gnotobiological isolation. Lactobacilli suppressed the gram-negative enterics and decreased translocation of the strict anaerobes, but not streptococci. Lomefloxacin increased survival, reducing the intestinal counts and translocation of gram-negative enterics, but not streptococci. A lomefloxacin/lactobacilli combination showed effects similar to lomefloxacin alone.