ORNITHINE ALPHA-KETOGLUTARATE COUNTERACTS THYMUS INVOLUTION AND GLUTAMINE DEPLETION IN ENDOTOXEMIC RATS

This work studied the action of ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate (OKG) su pplementation in an experimental model of endotoxemia in the rat. Male Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally with lipopolysaccharide ( LPS) from Escherichia coil (0127:B8). They were fasted for 24 h, then refed for 48 h with an enteral diet supplemented with either OKG (66 m g N.kg(-1).d(-1)) or glycine, isonitrogenous to the OKG group. A contr ol (sham) group was also studied. LPS treatment induced a decrease in thymus and muscle weights compared to controls, and a decrease in glut amine and arginine concentrations in the anterior tibialis muscle. Sup plementation with OKG restored thymus weight and muscle arginine level and increased muscle glutamine concentration, when compared to contro ls. We conclude that OKG counteracts the thymic involution that occurs with endotoxemia, and restores the muscular content of glutamine and arginine, both of which are involved in the regulation of immune funct ion.