[Effect of enteral supplement of arginine on intestinal adaptation and its mechanism in experimental rats with short bowel syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of enteral supplement of arginine on intestinal adaptation in rats with short bowel syndrome (SBS) and to study its mechanism.


METHODS
SD rats were randomly assigned to three groups: sham rats (Con), SBS rats (SB) and SBS rats supplemented with enteral arginine (SB-Arg). All the animals received isonitrogenic and isocaloric enteral nutrition, except that SB-Arg rats received enteral nutrition supplemented with arginine (300 mg kg(-1) d(-1)). Fat absorbability, plasma free fatty acids, parameters of intestinal adaptation, enterocytes proliferation and apoptosis were determined.


RESULTS
After massive small bowel resection, rats had significant bowel adaptation. Compared with SB rats, SB-Arg rats demonstrated a significant increase in fat absorbability [(84.9+/-3.2)% vs [(81.3+/-3.9)%], plasma level of free fatty acids [(650.0+/-86.5) vs (289.5+/-76.9) mg/L], ileal mucosal weight [(18.0+/-3.5) vs (13.5+/-3.0) mg cm(-1) 100 g(-1)], ileal DNA content [(29.6+/-3.3) vs (26.0+/-2.6) microg cm(-1) 100 g(-1)], jejunal mucosal protein content [(65.5+/-7.3) vs (59.8+/-6.2) microg cm(-1) 100 g(-1)], ileal mucosal protein content[(39.2+/-2.3) vs(35.4+/-2.3) microg cm(-1) 100 g(-1)], jejunal mucosal proliferation index [31+/-4 vs 22+/-3] and ileal mucosal proliferation index [32+/-2 vs 25+/-3] (all P<0.05). Moreover, jejunal and ileal villus length, crypt depth and mucosal thickness in SBS-Arg rats were higher than those in SB rats (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In rat SBS model, enteral supplement of arginine appears to stimulate intestinal structural and functional adaptation. The mechanism may be that arginine can stimulate enterocyte proliferation and inhibit enterocyte apoptosis.
Jiang
Xiao-hua
XH
Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University of Medical School, Nanjing, China.
Li
Ning
N
Zhu
Wei-ming
WM
Li
Jie-shou
JS
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012778:Short Bowel Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology
D001120:Arginine