L-glutamine enemas attenuate mucosal injury in experimental colitis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the role of 1-glutamine, short chain fatty acid, prednisolone, and mesalazine (5-aminosalicylic acid) enemas on mucosal damage and inflammation in experimental colitis.


METHODS
Colitis was induced in rats with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid in ethanol. Saline (n = 14), prednisolone (n = 13), 5-aminosalicylic acid (n = 14), 1-glutamine (n = 14), and short chain fatty acid (n = 13) enemas were applied twice daily to the rats for seven days after the induction of colitis. The sham group (n = 9) received only saline enemas. Rats were killed at the seventh day and their colonic macroscopic inflammatory scores were determined. Colonic mucosal gamma glutamyl transpeptidase activity and colonic mucosal malondialdehyde levels were measured. The same measurements but no enemas were done in the control group (n = 7).


RESULTS
There were significant differences in macroscopic inflammatory scores between sham and colitis groups (P < 0.001). The macroscopic inflammatory scores of the colitis group were higher than the short chain fatty acid and glutamine groups (P < 0.05). Whereas the mucosal gamma glutamyl transpeptidase activity was diminished in prednisolone, 5-aminosalicylic acid, and short chain fatty acid groups when compared with the control group; in the colitis, sham, and glutamine groups the activity of this enzyme did not change. The mucosal malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower in the prednisolone and glutamine groups than in the colitis group.


CONCLUSIONS
Only one of four agents tested, namely, 1-glutamine enemas, could decrease the severity of colitis both morphologically and biochemically. Moreover, L-glutamine prevented the colitis-induced oxidant injury in the colonic mucosa. On the other hand, prednisolone and short chain fatty acids seemed to improve only the physiologic changes of colitis.
Kaya
E
E
Department of Surgery, Uludag University School of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey.
Gür
E S
ES
Ozgüç
H
H
Bayer
A
A
Tokyay
R
R
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003092:Colitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004733:Enema; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005609:Free Radicals; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D005609:Free Radicals; D005973:Glutamine; D019804:Mesalamine; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D011241:Prednisone