Early response of ornithine decarboxylase activity and energy metabolism to postsurgery refeeding in rat small intestine.
BACKGROUND
Enterocyte proliferation and cellular energy status are important to intestinal integrity after starvation and trauma. The proliferative response to nutrients is expressed in the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), but ODC activity and ATP level in the intestinal mucosa the first hours after surgery and immediate refeeding are not known.


METHODS
Male Wistar rats (240-280 g) were starved for 48 h and submitted to laparotomy with distal ileal transection, gastrostomy and jejunal instillation of either enteral formula or saline. The ODC activity and ATP content of the jejunal mucosa were analysed in samples taken at 1, 2, 4 and 6 h after surgery.


RESULTS
ODC activity increased and reached the highest peak at 2 h in the refed animals. ATP concentration and energy charge of jejunal mucosa were significantly reduced 6 h after surgery compared to initial levels, but there were no differences between animals that were refed or not. Intestinal transection did not stimulate ODC activity.


CONCLUSIONS
ATP levels in intestinal mucosa decreased after surgery, and early enteral feeding did not seem to prevent this decrease during the first 6 h. Refeeding immediately after surgery elicits an early but transient increase of ODC activity in rat jejunal mucosa.
Yang
H
H
Department of Surgery and Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Health Science, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Wirén
M
M
Permert
J
J
Söderholm
J
J
Braaf
Y
Y
Larsson
J
J
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005502:Food; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000601:surgery; D007583:Jejunum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013217:Starvation / Q000201:enzymology
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase