A combination of dexamethasone and glucagon-like peptide-2 increase intestinal morphology and glucose uptake in suckling rats.
OBJECTIVE
Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-2 enhances nutrient uptake in adult animals. Glucocorticosteroids accelerate intestinal ontogeny and increase nutrient uptake in adult animals. We hypothesized that administering GLP-2 and dexamethasone (DEX) to suckling rats will enhance sugar uptake and that this effect persists into the postweaning period.


METHODS
Suckling rats were treated for 10 days with GLP-2 (0.1 microg/g/d, twice daily), DEX (0.128 microg/g/d, once daily), GLP-2 + Dex (same doses as above), or placebo. The rate of intestinal uptake of glucose and fructose in sucklings (19-21 days old) and weanlings (49 days old) was assessed using an in vitro ring technique.


RESULTS
DEX reduced body weight in weanlings, whereas GLP-2 + DEX prevented this effect. In sucklings, GLP-2 + DEX increased ileal villous height and jejunal and ileal villous width and crypt depth. In sucklings, GLP-2 + DEX increased the maximal transport rate (Vmax) for jejunal glucose uptake, whereas DEX reduced the ileal Vmax. In weanlings, GLP-2 + DEX increased jejunal villous height, whereas ileal villous width and crypt depth were reduced. DEX increased the ileal Vmax and apparent affinity constant for glucose in weanlings.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of these hormones may be useful in stimulating glucose uptake in the developing intestine, and giving DEX to sucklings may enhance glucose uptake in later life.
Drozdowski
Laurie A
LA
Nutrition and Metabolism Group, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Iordache
Claudiu
C
Clandinin
M Tom
MT
Wild
Gary
G
Todd
Zoe
Z
Thomson
Alan B R
AB
D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000378:metabolism; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053767:Glucagon-Like Peptide 2; D004763:Glucagon-Like Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014886:Weaning
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D053767:Glucagon-Like Peptide 2; D004763:Glucagon-Like Peptides; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005947:Glucose