Glutamine supplementation decreases intestinal permeability and preserves gut mucosa integrity in an experimental mouse model.
BACKGROUND
Glutamine (GLN) is the preferred fuel for enterocytes, and GLN supplementation is critical during stressful conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of GLN on intestinal barrier permeability and bacterial translocation in a murine experimental model.


METHODS
Swiss male mice (25-30 g) were randomized into 3 groups: (1) sham group; (2) intestinal obstruction (IO) group; (3) IO and GLN (500 mg/kg/d) group. Two different experiments were carried out to assess intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation. In the first experiment, the animals were divided into the 3 groups described above and received diethylenetriamine pentaacetate radiolabeled with technetium ((99m)Tc) on the eighth day. At different time points after intestinal obstruction, blood was collected to determine radioactivity. The animals were killed, and the small intestine was removed for histological analyses. In the bacterial translocation study, on the eighth day all groups received Escherichia coli labeled with (99m)Tc. After 90 minutes, the animals underwent intestinal obstruction and were killed 18 hours later. Blood, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen, and lungs were removed to determine radioactivity. Statistical significance was considered when P < or = .05.


RESULTS
The levels of intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation were higher in the IO group than in the sham and GLN groups (P < .05). GLN decreased intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation to physiologic levels in the treated animals and preserved intestinal barrier integrity.


CONCLUSIONS
GLN had a positive impact on the intestinal barrier by reducing permeability and bacterial translocation to physiologic levels and preserving mucosal integrity.
dos Santos
Rosana das Graças Carvalho
Rd
School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. rosanaufv@yahoo.com.br
Viana
Mirelle Lomar
ML
Generoso
Simone Vasconcelos
SV
Arantes
Rosa Esteves
RE
Davisson Correia
Maria Isabel Toulson
MI
Cardoso
Valbert Nascimento
VN
D000818:Animals; D018988:Bacterial Translocation / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005973:Glutamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011868:Radioisotopes; D011897:Random Allocation; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013667:Technetium
D011868:Radioisotopes; D005973:Glutamine; D013667:Technetium