Role of L-glutamine and glycine supplementation on irradiated colonic wall.
OBJECTIVE
Radiotherapy is frequently used for cancer treatment, but it may be associated with several complications. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the role of L-glutamine and/or glycine supplementation on the colonic wall in rats submitted to abdominal radiation.


METHODS
Sixty adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: I-healthy, II (control)-irradiated rats without amino acid supplementation, III-irradiated rats with glycine supplementation, IV-irradiated rats with L-glutamine supplementation, V-irradiated rats with glycine supplementation 7 days before irradiation and with L-glutamine supplementation 7 days after irradiation, and VI-irradiated rats with L-glutamine supplementation 7 days before irradiation and with glycine supplementation 7 days after irradiation. Abdominal irradiation was employed with a dose of 1,000 cGy on the eighth day of the experiment. All animals underwent laparotomy on the 15th day for resection of a colonic segment for stereologic analysis. Parametric and nonparametric tests were used for statistical analysis, with the level of significance set at p<or=0.05.


RESULTS
Control animals (group II) presented a significantly smaller total volume of colonic wall when compared to animals of groups I, III, IV, V, and VI. There was a significant increase in mucosal layer volume in the animals of group IV compared to animals of groups I, II, and III.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that L-glutamine and/or glycine supplementation is beneficial for the repair of the colonic wall of rats, but L-glutamine, with its trophic effects on the colonic mucosa, seems to exhibit better results.
Diestel
Cristina F
CF
Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Marques
Ruy G
RG
Lopes-Paulo
Francisco
F
Paiva
Daurita
D
Horst
Nara L
NL
Caetano
Carlos Eduardo R
CE
Portela
Margareth C
MC
D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D005973:Glutamine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D005973:Glutamine; D005998:Glycine
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