[Alanyl-glutamine dipeptides protected the liver function by increasing the hepatic glutathione].
OBJECTIVE
Glutathione (GSH) is a major antioxidant which protects hepatic tissues from free radical injury. Alanyl-Glutamine (ALA-GLN) proved to be a precursor of GSH synthesis, was used to investigate the relationship to GSH biosynthesis which may be effective for hepatic protection.


METHODS
20 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups receiving standard parenteral nutrition (STD) supplemented with or without ALA-GLN for 7 days. At 5th day 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was injected peritoneally, the blood samples for GSH, GSSG, ALT (sGPT), AKP and TBilli tests were measured after 4-8 h.


RESULTS
The concentration measurements were significantly different in ALA-GLN group compared with STD animals in serum GLN (687.3 +/- 49.8) vs (504.9 +/- 38.6) mumol/L, P < 0.05), serum GSH (14.37 +/- 5.16) vs (7.08 +/- 3.16) mumol/L, P < 0.01) and in liver GSH content (6.86 +/- 2.46) vs (4.38 +/- 1.63) mumol/g liver tissue, P < 0.05). Rats in ALA-GLN group have lesser elevations in hepatic enzymes after 5-FU administration.


CONCLUSIONS
The supplemented nutrition ALA-GLN protected the liver function through increasing the glutathione biosynthesis and preserving the glutathione stores of hepatic tissue.
Yu
J
J
PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730.
Jiang
Z
Z
Li
D
D
Yang
N
N
Bai
M
M
D000818:Animals; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004751:Enteritis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D005472:Fluorouracil; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D004151:Dipeptides; D005978:Glutathione; D005472:Fluorouracil; C054122:alanylglutamine