title: Role of L-glutamine and glycine supplementation on irradiated colonic wall.
abstract: 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.
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Cristina F
authors: CF
authors: Diestel
authors: Ruy G
authors: RG
authors: Marques
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Lopes-Paulo
authors: Daurita
authors: D
authors: Paiva
authors: Nara L
authors: NL
authors: Horst
authors: Carlos Eduardo R
authors: CE
authors: Caetano
authors: Margareth C
authors: MC
authors: Portela
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D005973:Glutamine; D005998:Glycine
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