Functional parameters of the intestinal barrier as affected by probiotics

In vitro studies were carried out using epithelial tissues from the upper small intestines of growing pigs. The experiments have shown that in comparison with control animals the application of yeasts resulted in significantly lower increases in short circuit currents in response to theophyllin. Saccharomyces boulardii and Bacillus cereus var. toyoi both increased glucose uptake into brush border membrane vesicles as a function of time and this could also be detected for alanine in yeast treated animals. The paracellular permeability was significantly decreased in response to the application of yeasts. These findings support the concept of a modulation of the intestinal barrier by probiotics and in further studies the cellular mechanisms have to be characterized.