Abstract: To establish the model of bowel dysfunction after acute shigella flexneri infection by imitating the natural course of human postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome. Methods: Shigella flexneri 1 ml in a concentration of 9×108CFU/ml was injected into 30 female Wistar rats by gavage to make models of postinfectious bowel dysfunction, and saline into the other 30 by gavage. Stool form and histological changes of distal colon, cultivated shigella flexneri were observed at day 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, and the perceptual threshold was detected with colonrectal balloon distention at day 16, 19, 22, 25 after infection. Results: At day 16～22 after acute enteric infection, stool form altered and the perceptual threshold decreased greatly in experiment group compared with normal control group (P＜0.05), while no histological inflammation was found in distal colon and no shigella flexneri growth in cultivation of feces in experiment group. Conclusion： Visceral hypersensitivity exists in rats at day 16～22 after acute shigella flexneri infection when enteral infection diminishes, suggesting postinfectious bowel dysfunction model is established successfully.

Key words: Infection, Bowel dysfunction, Animal model, Rats, Wistar