EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY TO SHOW THAT GROWTH-HORMONE TREATMENT BEFORE TRAUMA INCREASES GLUTAMINE UPTAKE IN THE INTESTINAL-TRACT

This study examined whether growth hormone treatment deprived the inte stinal tract of glutamine after trauma. Piglets were treated with grow th hormone 24 units daily 3 days before and at the start of the trauma (GH-3, n = 8) or at the start of the trauma only (GH-1, n = 8). Eight piglets acted as non-treated controls. The trauma consisted of a stan dardized abdominal surgical procedure. Primed constant infusions of U- C-14-glutamine were given. Intestinal, hepatic, renal and hindleg glut amine fluxes were measured. Growth hormone treatment increased mean(s. e.m.) net intestinal glutamine uptake: GH-3, 39.7(9.4) and 48.7(12.7) mu mol/min; GH-1, 33.2(5.5) and 25.7(12.3) mu mol/min; controls, 19.5( 10.3) and 2.0(15.3) mu mol/min at 1 h and 5 h after trauma, respective ly, (P = 0.02). The treatment increased glutamine oxidation (P = 0.025 ), and decreased hindleg glutamine net (P = 0.0052) and absolute relea se (P = 0.0063), glutamine rate of appearance (P = 0.01), and percenta ge of glucose coming from glutamine (P = 0.05). Growth hormone treatme nt before trauma increased intestinal glutamine uptake.