Growth hormone plus high protein diet promotes adaptation after massive bowel resection in aged rats.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether GH improves adaptation following massive bowel resection in the aged rat fed on a high protein-content diet.


METHODS
Seventy-seven male Wistar rats aged 22+/-1 months underwent 80% bowel resection or laparotomy (sham-operation). They were randomly placed into one of eight groups, treated with either growth hormone (1mg/kg/day) or saline, and fed a liquid diet containing either a high or a normal protein content. Intestinal tissue and blood samples were taken seven days after surgery and analysed to measure intestinal mucosal proliferation and mucosal height, as well as plasma levels of IGF-1 and somatostatin.


RESULTS
Resection of the small bowel in aged rats remarkably increased villous height and crypt proliferation. Growth hormone did not potentiate the increase in mucosal height and crypt proliferation observed after intestinal resection in aged rats fed a normal protein content diet, but did in those receiving a high-protein diet. Plasma levels of IGF-1 and somatostatin were not modified by surgery or treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Growth hormone may increase the adaptation of intestinal mucosa in aged rats undergoing massive intestinal resection, but requires an adequate nutritional support with increased amounts of high quality protein.
Fadrique
B
B
Research Unit, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Paseo de la Castellana, 261, 28046 Madrid, Spain.
Lopez
J M
JM
Bermudez
R
R
Gomez de Segura
I A
IA
Vazquez
I
I
De Miguel
E
E
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016019:Survival Analysis
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D013006:Growth Hormone