ORIGINAL ARTICLE Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v treatment in an animal model of irritable bowel syndrome

Lactobacillus plantarum 299v is a probiotic bacterium effective in treating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. A mouse model of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be produced by rectal administration of 1 % allyl isothiocyanate (oil of mustard) in 30 % ethanol. This study examined the effect of L. plantarum 299v on colonic inflammation and motility in the oil of mustard model. L. plantarum 299v (1109 cfu) was gavaged for up to 28 days, beginning either 7 days before (pretreatment) or 8 days after oil of mustard administration (post-treatment). Colonic interferon gamma (IFNg) release as an assessment of the inflammatory response was measured at day 4 and day 20 following oil of mustard administration. Small intestinal transit was assessed via the dye-transit score technique at day 20. L. plantarum 299v reduced inflammation at both day 4 and day 20 and normalized intestinal transit rates in the oil of mustard murine IBS model