Effect of intragastric feeding with qualitatively different mixtures on the microflora composition of the intestines in rats

Rats of four groups each holding 6-8 animals were changed over to intragastric nutrition with different mixtures one week after cannula implantation into the stomach. The observation period constituted 15 days. The rats of two other groups were kept on oral feeding with a common diet. As compared to oral feeding, intragastric one led to alterations in the cecum microflora. More profound hydrolysis of the nutrients contained by the mixture produced a more demonstrable increase in the number of enterobacteria, enterococci, staphylococci, and lactobacilli. Intragastric feeding with a mixture without nitrogenous component sharply reduced the number of lactobacilli in the cecum contents.