R. Schlemminger et al., NUTRITIONAL PARAMETERS AND RELEASE OF NEU ROTENSIN FOLLOWING SMALL-BOWEL RESECTION, SYNGENEIC, OR ALLOGENEIC SEGMENTAL TRANSPLANTATION IN RATS, Langenbecks Archiv fur Chirurgie, 378(5), 1993, pp. 265-272
The aim of the following study was to gain some insight into the funct
ional characteristics of different portions of the small intestine aft
er either partial resection or syngeneic and allogeneic transplantatio
n 3 months postoperatively. Nutritional parameters (serum albumin leve
ls, serum triglyceride levels, maltose absorption, excretion of fecal
fat) and fat-stimulated neurotensin release were determined in Lewis r
ats that underwent small-bowel resection (n = 21), syngeneic (Lewis-->
Lewis, n = 21), or allogeneic transplantation (Brown Norway-->Lewis, n
= 24). The length of the remnant, isograft, or allograft was 27 cm (i
.e., one-third of the rat small intestine) and consisted of the proxim
al (n = 7), middle (n = 7), or distal (n = 7) portion. Three postopera
tive deaths were due to ileus or pneumonia. After allotransplantation
cyclosporine (15 mg/kg body wt. s.c.) was administered for graft accep
tance. The control group was not operated upon, but was composed of we
ight- and age-matched Lewis rats (n = 7). We found that resection of t
wo-thirds of the small intestine led to significantly lower levels of
albumin and triglycerides in all three portions investigated (P < 0.01
), but did not affect maltose absorption. Excretion of fecal fat was e
levated significantly only after distal resection (P < 0.05). When com
pared to resected animals, syngeneic transplantation did not affect th
e nutritional parameters, but caused a significantly higher hormone re
lease (P < 0.05) in all three different intestinal grafts. Allogeneic
transplantation was successful when the middle or distal portion was g
rafted. All recipients of proximal allografts showed a severe loss of
body weight and died between day 8 and 1 0 after transplantation. Post
mortem examination revealed no signs of acute rejection. We conclude t
hat when transplantation of short intestinal segments is considered, i
t is of vital importance to take into account the functional differenc
es and the influence of immunosuppressive drug therapy in the regulati
on of bowel function.