Glutamine enhances the gut-trophic effect of growth hormone in rat after massive small bowel resection

Background Bowel-specific nutrient, glutamine, growth hormone, and modified diet have been reported to jointly improve nutrient absorption in patients with short bowel syndrome. However, controversy exists about the exact tre atment factor. In this study we attempted to analyze the individual and com bined effect of glutamine supplementation and growth hormone on small bowel adaptation by using tube feeding to control luminal nutrition supply. Materials and methods. Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (278 +/- 8 g) underwent 85% mid-small bowel resection and were randomly assigned to f our groups: Control, receiving control liquid diet via a gastrotomy tube; G LN, receiving liquid diet enriched with 20 g(.)L(-1) glutamine; GH, receivi ng subcutaneous growth hormone(GH) (0.3 IU, bid); and GLN + GH, receiving b oth glutamine supplementation and GH treatment. AU animals were provided wi th isocaloric (60 kcal/day) and isonitrogenous (0.686 g/day) nutrition. Abs orption tests were performed in the form of oral nutrient tests with C-14-l abeled glucose and H-3-labeled palmitic acid on the Postoperative Day 12. Results. GH treatment significantly increased the plasma insulin-like growt h factor I (IGF-I) level, body weight, jejunal and ileal villous height and mucosal thickness, and peak plasma C-14 and H-3 levels. Glutamine suppleme ntation did not produce a significant difference; however, combined with GH treatment, glutamine supplementation further increased body weight, plasma IGF-I level, jejunal and ileal villous height and mucosal thickness, and p eak plasma 14C and 3H levels significantly. Conclusions. After massive small bowel resection, enteral glutamine supplem entation alone has no remarkable beneficial effect on bowel adaptation, How ever, glutamine supplementation enhanced the gut-trophic effect of GH. (C) 2001 Academic Press.