The trophic effect of the administration of exogenous neurotensin on t
he intestinal mucosa was studied in rats following an 80% bowel resect
ion. Villus length and mucosal DNA content were assessed in the jejuna
l and ileal mucosa of the remnant intestine 14 days after resection. T
he data obtained in an 80% resected control group (80% group) and art
experimental group receiving an infusion of neurotensin (300 mu g/kg/d
ay) for 14 days subcutaneously (80% + NT group) were compared. The res
ults indicate that the administration of exogenous neurotensin (80% NT) increases villus length (jejunum: 920 +/- 77 vs 861 +/- 25 mu m an
d ileum length: 975 +/- 23 vs 875 +/- 99 mu m) to an extent greater th
an that observed in the 80% resected group not receiving exogenous neu
rotensin. The levels of mucosal DNA per milligram of protein increased
significantly in both groups but was paradoxically less in the 80% NT group than in the 80% resection group (jejunum: 8.12 +/- 0.56 vs 10
.18 +/- 0.80; ileum: 8.63 +/- 0.43 vs 10.05 +/- 0.46). These data sugg
est that the administration of exogenous neurotensin to the rat potent
iates the growth of intestinal villi and accelerates the intestinal tr
ophic response seen following massive bowel resection. The increase in
circulating enteroglucagon levels noted after neurotensin administrat
ion (80% + NT: 547 +/- 48 pg/ml vs 80%: 341 +/- 41 pg/ml) suggests tha
t some of the trophic effects of neurotensin mar be mediated, at least
in part, by enteroglucagon. These data also suggest a potential role
for the use of neurotensin in the initial treatment of individuals wit
h short bowel syndrome.