title: Effects of alanyl-glutamine on gut barrier function.
abstract: Traditional parenteral nutrition (PN) and chemotherapy may lead to changes of mucosal morphology and gut barrier function. This study investigated the effect of alanyl-glutamine (Ala-Gln) on intestinal morphology and gut barrier function in PN-fed rats challenged with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Male Wistar rats were centrally catheterized and then randomized to receive PN devoid of glutamine (control group; n = 10) or 3% Ala-Gln-supplemented PN (study group; n = 10) for 7 d. Intestinal permeability to lactulose and mannitol was measured before and 72 h post 5-FU administration on day 4. Serum glutamine concentration and jejunal mucosal structure were maintained in the study group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The bacterial translocation rates of mesenteric lymph nodes in the study group were significantly lower than the control (30% versus 90%; P < 0.05). No significant differences was found between the control and study groups with respect to ratio of lactulose and mannitol excreted in urine (L/M) (0.026 +/- 0.005575 versus 0.022 +/- 0.03079; P > 0.05) on day 3. On day 7, L/M was unaltered in the study group, whereas it increased in the control (0.042 +/- 0.004634 versus 0.029 +/- 0.002020; P < 0.05). We concluded that glutamine dipeptide maintained intestinal mucosal morphology and barrier function in PN-fed rats challenged with 5-FU.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: M X
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Z M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Wilmore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018988:Bacterial Translocation; D003106:Colon / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects; D005973:Glutamine / Q000097:blood; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D007792:Lactulose / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008353:Mannitol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D010539:Permeability; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D004151:Dipeptides; D005973:Glutamine; D008353:Mannitol; D007792:Lactulose; D005472:Fluorouracil; C054122:alanylglutamine