TROPHIC EFFECTS OF NEUROTENSIN IN MASSIVE BOWEL RESECTION IN THE RAT

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.