GLUTAMINE PROTECTS FUNCTION AND IMPROVES PRESERVATION OF SMALL-BOWEL SEGMENTS

Background: Improved organ preservation is essential for the success o f small bowel transplantation. Small bowel is usually preserved in UW (University of Wisconsin) solution which does not contain glutamine (G ln), the principal fuel for the enterocyte. We hypothesized that Gln-s upplemented UW would improve mucosal function and structure of cold pr eserved small intestine. Materials and methods: Jejunum (40 cm) was ha rvested from Lewis rats and preserved for 18 hr at 4 degrees C in sali ne; UW solution only; UW with 1, 2, or 4% Gin; and UW containing 1, 2, or 4% isonitrogenous balanced nonessential amino acids (NEAA), C-14 g lucose transport, mucosal protein, mucosal maltase and alkaline phosph atase, jejunal villous height, and histologic damage were measured. Re sults: UW with 2% Gin significantly increased glucose transport and mu cosal protein when compared to the 2% NEAA and UW-only groups. Two per cent Gin significantly decreased histologic damage of jejunum followin g cold preservation. Increasing Gin to 4% did not significantly increa se its efficacy when compared to the UW with 2% Gin group. There were no significant differences in the activities of mucosal maltase and al kaline phosphatase among the various treatment groups. Conclusions: Th e addition of Gln, optimally provided at a concentration of 2%, to UW solution may protect the preserved small bowel segments from cold isch emic injury and improve mucosal function. (C) 1997 Academic Press.