Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 14, 2010; 16(34): 4313-4320
Published online Sep 14, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i34.4313
Effects of glutamine and curcumin on bacterial translocation in jaundiced rats
Oguzhan Karatepe, Ersin Acet, Muharrem Battal, Gokhan Adas, Ahu Kemik, Merih Altiok, Gulcin Kamali, Safiye Koculu, Atahan Cagatay, Sedat Kamali, Servet Karahan
Oguzhan Karatepe, Ersin Acet, Muharrem Battal, Gokhan Adas, Merih Altiok, Sedat Kamali, Servet Karahan, Department of Surgery, Okmeydani Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, 34715, Turkey
Ahu Kemik, Department of Biochemistry, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, 34725, Turkey
Gulcin Kamali, Department of Surgery, Okmeydani Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, 34715, Turkey
Safiye Koculu, Atahan Cagatay, Department of Infectious Disease, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, 34715, Turkey
Author contributions: Karatepe O and Acet E designed the study, wrote the manuscript and performed the majority of experiments; Battal M performed the majority of experiments; Kemik A performed the biochemical studies; Kamali G performed the pathological studies; Koculu S and Cagatay A performed the microbiological studies; Adas G, Altiok M, Karahan S and Kamali S were involved in editing the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Oguzhan Karatepe, MD, Department of Surgery, Okmeydani Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, 34715, Turkey. drkaratepe@yahoo.com
Telephone: +90-212-2217777 Fax: +90-216-3612140
Received: December 20, 2009
Revised: February 20, 2010
Accepted: February 27, 2010
Published online: September 14, 2010
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effect of curcumin on bacterial translocation and oxidative damage in an obstructive jaundice model and compare the results to glutamine, an agent known to be effective and clinically used.

METHODS: Twenty-four female Wistar-Albino rats, weighing 200-250 g, were randomly divided into three groups (8 in each group). After ligation of the common bile duct in all animals, Group I received oral normal saline, Group II received oral glutamine and Group III received oral curcumin for seven days. Blood samples via cardiac puncture, tissue samples (terminal ileum, liver and mesenteric lymph node) and peritoneal fluid were obtained from the animals at the time of death to investigate bacterial translocation and oxidative damage.

RESULTS: We observed that both glutamine and curcumin reduced bacterial translocation in blood, hepatocellular damage, plasma cytokine levels, oxidative tissue damage and apoptosis significantly compared to the control group. Additionally, glutamine showed protective effects on ileal epithelium and reduced villus atrophy.

CONCLUSION: On the basis of these findings, both curcumin and glutamine are thought to be effective in preventing or reducing bacterial translocation and oxidative damage in obstructive jaundice.

Keywords: Obstructive jaundice; Bacterial translocation; Oxidative damage; Glutamine; Curcumin