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Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 1, 2004; 10(17): 2592-2594
Published online Sep 1, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i17.2592
Glutamine supplemented parenteral nutrition prevents intestinal ischemia- reperfusion injury in rats
Guo-Hao Wu, Hao Wang, Yan-Wei Zhang, Zhao-Han Wu, Zhao-Guang Wu
Guo-Hao Wu, Hao Wang, Yan-Wei Zhang, Zhao-Han Wu, Zhao-Guang Wu, Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Guo-Hao Wu, Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. wugh@zshospital.net
Telephone: +86-21-64041990 Ext. 2365 Fax: +86-21-64038472
Received: February 2, 2004
Revised: February 4, 2004
Accepted: February 24, 2004
Published online: September 1, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To examine whether glutamine prevents the injury to the intestinal mucosa after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.

METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: a standard parenteral nutrition (PN) group (n = 10) ; an I/R-PN group (n = 10) ; an I/R-glutamine enriched PN (I/R-Gln) group (n = 10). The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was clamped. After 60 min of ischemia, reperfusion was initiated and infusion was started. All rats received isocaloric and isonitrogenous nutritional support for 48 h. Spleen, liver, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), and intestinal segments were removed for morphological and biochemical analyses, and blood samples were collected for bacterial culture and measurement of endotoxin levels. The permeability of intestinnal mucosa was assayed by measurement of D-(-)-lactate levels in plasma.

RESULTS: In I/R-PN group, extensive epithelial atrophy was observed, mucosal thickness, villous height, crypt depth and villous surface area were decreased significantly compared with PN group, whereas these findings did not occur in the I/R-Gln group. The incidence of intestinal bacterial translocation to spleen, liver, MLN, and blood was significantly higher in I/R-PN group than that in other groups. Plasma endotoxin levels significantly increased in the I/R-PN group compared with the I/R-Gln group. Remarkably higher values of D-(-)-lactate were also detected in PN group compared with that in I/R-Gln group.

CONCLUSION: Glutamine protects the morphology and function of intestinal mucosa from injury after I/R in rats.

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