Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of sleeve gastrectomy on the intestinal barrier of obesity rats fed with high-fat diet. Methods 30 obesity rats fed with high-fat diet were randomly divided into three groups including common diet group (CD, n=10), sham operation group (SO, n=10) and sleeve gastrectomy group (SG, n=10). The lactulose/ mannitol ratios (L/M) in 24-hour urine and endotoxin levels in portal vein were evaluated four weeks after surgery. The levels of tight junction proteins including claudin-1 and occludin in intestinal mucosa were analyzed by western blot. Results The body weight of SG group was significantly decreased than those of CD group (P <0.001) and SO group (P <0.001) four weeks after surgery. The L/M ratio in 24-hour urine of SG group was significantly lower than those of CD group (P <0.001) and SO group (P <0.01). The endotoxin level in portal vein of SG group was significantly lower than those of CD group (P <0.01) and SO group (P <0.05). The claudin-1 level in intestinal mucosa of SG group was significantly higher than those of CD group (P <0.001) and SO group (P <0.01) four weeks after surgery. The occludin level in intestinal mucosa of SG group was significantly higher than those of CD group (P <0.001) and SO group (P <0.001). Conclusions Sleeve gastrectomy can reduce body weight, L/M ratio in 24-hour urine and endotoxin level in portal vein of obesity rat fed with high-fat diet and increase the levels of claudin-1 and occludin in intestinal mucosa.

Key words: sleeve gastrectomy, obesity, intestinal barrier, tight junction proteins