title: Enteral glutamine increases growth and absorptive capacity of intestinal mucosa in the malnourished rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glutamine is an important nutrient for the small intestine. Beneficial effects of glutamine could be related to restoration of optimal intestinal barrier functions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to three main groups. Experimental groups (n = 22) were malnourished and laparotomized. Sham groups (n = 11) were laparotomized without prior malnutrition. These groups were refed with or without oral glutamine for 3 days. The control group (n = 5) was given chow. Permeability was assessed by the 6-h urinary recovery of orally given polyethylene glycols, PEG 400/1000. Mucosal proliferation was estimated by DNA content and 1-h incorporation of 3H-thymidine intravenously.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the malnourished groups glutamine resulted in higher thymidine incorporation (p < 0.05) and better absorption of small PEG molecules (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effects of oral glutamine on permeability after malnourishment and laparotomy are proposed to be related to an increase in absorptive area.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wirén
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Magnusson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004032:Diet; D005973:Glutamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D005973:Glutamine; D014316:Tritium; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D013936:Thymidine