INTESTINAL TROPHIC EFFECT OF NEUROTENSIN AFTER COLECTOMY

Neurotensin is a trophic peptide for the intestinal mucosa. Intestinal resection is a well known adaptive process of mucosal growth. Our aim was to determine the effect of exogenous neurotensin administration o n intestinal mucosal growth after colectomy in the rat. Two groups: co lon resection (n=15) and colon resection plus neurotensin (n=15, 600 m ug/kg/day, 13 days post-surgery) were studied. Intestinal growth was a ssessed by means of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) tech nique on the intestinal crypt. Our results showed that neurotensin inc reased (p < 0.0001) epitelial cell growth when compared to non treated animals. Body weight loss was found in the non treated group but not in neurotensin treated animals. In conclusion, neurotensin increases c ell growth in rats with colectomy, and maintains body weight. Neuroten sin may have beneficial effects in colectomized patients.