Intestinal function and metabolism in the early adaptive phase after massive small bowel resection in the rat

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the early adaptive respon ses in metabolism and gut function after massive small bowel resection, Methods: Male Wistar rats underwent an 80% small bowel resection (Ent group , n = 9) or a transection and reanastomozing (Sham group, n = 7). After 24 hours, substrate fluxes across the gut were determined together with intest inal protein synthesis, polyamine concentrations in gut tissue, and gut fun ction by testing intestinal permeability using the urinary recovery of lact ulose and rhamnose. To test for the effect of starvation, healthy starved r ats were studied. Results: In the Ent group, intestinal uptake of glucose, lactate, glutamine , phenylalanine, branched chain amino acids, and total amino acids were equ al to or higher than that in Sham rats. Intestinal protein synthesis increa sed, accompanied by an increase in spermidine to spermine polyamine ratios in the ileum and in the jejunal muscular layer. The urinary lactulose to rh amnose ratio also increased, suggesting increased intestinal permeability. Conclusions: 24 hours after massive small bowel resection, adaptive respons es in metabolism and gut function already can be observed, as indicated by increased intestinal uptake of substrates and increased protein synthesis. This, however, is accompanied by an increase in intestinal permeability, wh ich may indicate impaired intestinal barrier function. Copyright (C) 2001 b y W.B. Saunders Company.