Neurotensin increases intestinal adaptation and reduces enteroglucagon-like immunoreactivity after large bowel resection in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of giving neurotensin on intestinal adaptation after colectomy and their relation to enteroglucagon-like immunoreactivity.


METHODS
Laboratory experiment.


METHODS
Teaching hospital, Spain.


METHODS
55 Male Wistar rats.


METHODS
All animals were anaesthetised before undergoing laparotomy; 24 animals had 75% of their colon resected. Half of the animals (12 in each group) were treated with neurotensin (600 micrograms/kg body wt/day) for 14 days.


METHODS
Differences in the number of mitoses and in nuclear antigen staining of proliferating cells in the intestinal mucosal crypts; plasma enteroglucagon-like immunoreactivity.


RESULTS
After colon resection, the proliferative status, number of mitoses (p < 0.01), and nuclear antigen staining of proliferating cells (p < 0.001) increased significantly in the jejunum of animals treated with neurotensin (p < 0.05). Less pronounced effects were observed in colon and ileum. Plasma enteroglucagon-like immunoreactivity levels fell significantly in all animals given neurotensin (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Neurotensin increases the adaptive intestinal process after colon resection and reduces plasma enteroglucagon-like immunoreactivity in rats.
Mata
A
A
Service of Experimental Surgery, Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
Gómez de Segura
I A
IA
Largo
C
C
Codesal
J
J
De Miguel
E
E
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D003082:Colectomy; D005260:Female; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000502:physiology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000502:physiology*; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D009496:Neurotensin