GROWTH-HORMONE AND INSULIN-LIKE-GROWTH-FACTOR-1 PROMOTE INTESTINAL UPTAKE AND HEPATIC RELEASE OF GLUTAMINE IN SEPSIS

Objective To study the effects of growth hormone (GH) and insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-1) on whole body and gastrointestinal (Gt), hepat ic, femoral, and renal glutamine (GLN) uptake and release in septic pi glets. Summary Background Data. The GI metabolism of GLN is impaired d uring sepsis, and this may contribute to a breakdown of the gut's muco sal barrier. GH treatment has produced increased GI GLN uptake in surg ical stress. Little is known about the effects of GH and IGF-1 in seps is. Methods Twenty-four piglets were randomized to three groups of eig ht each: a GH group received a bolus of 16 IU of Genotropin; an IGF-I group received a continuous infusion of 1.3 mg/hour of IGF-I; and a co ntrol group received saline. After surgical preparation, sepsis was in duced with live Escherichia coil bacteria. Using isotope technique, wh ole body turnover and organ-specific absolute uptake and release were measured before and 4 hours after sepsis. Results After sepsis, both G H and IGF;I treatment increased GI GLN uptake compared with controls a nd induced hepatic release of GLN. GLN release from skeletal muscle wa s diminished in ail groups after sepsis. Whole body GLN turnover was i ncreased in the GH and IGF-1 groups compared with the controls, before and after sepsis. Conclusions GH and IGF-I treatment induced increase d Gi net uptake of GLN. GH and IGF-1 treatment also promoted absolute and net release of GLN from the liver. This release might facilitate i ncreased GI uptake despite reduced hindleg release in the early phase of sepsis.