Early response of ornithine decarboxylase activity and energy metabolism to postsurgery refeeding in rat small intestine

Introduction: Enterocyte proliferation and cellular energy status are impor tant to intestinal integrity after starvation and trauma. The proliferative response to nutrients is expressed in the activity of ornithine decarboxyl ase (ODC), but ODC activity and ATP level in the intestinal mucosa the firs t hours after surgery and immediate refeeding are not known. Methods: Male Wistar rats (240-280 g) were starved for 48 h and submitted t o laparotomy with distal ileal transection, gastrostomy and jejunal instill ation of either enteral formula or saline. The ODC activity and ATP content of the jejunal mucosa were analysed in samples taken at 1, 2, 4 and 6 h af ter surgery. Results: ODC activity increased and reached the highest peak at 2 h in the refed animals. ATP concentration and energy charge of jejunal mucosa were s ignificantly reduced 6 h after surgery compared to initial levels, but ther e were no differences between animals that were refed or not. Intestinal tr ansection did not stimulate ODC activity. Conclusion: ATP levels in intestinal mucosa decreased after surgery, and ea rly enteral feeding did not seem to prevent this decrease during the first 6 h. Refeeding immediately after surgery elicits an early but transient inc rease of ODC activity in rat jejunal mucosa.