title: [Regulatory effects of glutamine on Toll-like receptor 4 in neonatal rats with necrotizing enterocolitis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) and caspase-3 in the intestine of neonatal rats with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and explore the protective effects and possible regulatory mechanisms of glutamine (Gln) in NEC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty premature rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=20 each): control, NEC model and Gln intervention group. NEC model was prepared by formula feeding, hypoxia and cold stress. The Gln intervention group was also subjected to hypoxia and cold stress but was fed with formula containing Gln (0.3 g/kg). Two days later, the rats were sacrificed and the intestine tissues were obtained. The histological changes of ileal tissues were observed by hemetoxylin and eosin staining. The expression of caspase-3 and TLR-4 protein in the jejunum, ileum and colon were detected by inmunohistochemistry. The expression of TLR-4 mRNA in the jejunum, ileum and colon were detected by RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, the histological score of ileal tissues, and the expression of caspase-3, TLR-4 protein and TLR-4 mRNA in the NEC model group increased significantly (P<0.01). Gln intervention decreased significantly the histological score of ileal tissues, and the expression of caspase-3, TLR-4 protein and TLR-4 mRNA compared with the NEC model group (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TLR-4 might be involved in the pathogenesis of NEC. Gln may provide protective effects on intestine possibly through reducing the TLR-4 expression and then decreasing the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dongguan Taiping People's Hospital, Dongguan, Guangdong 523905, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-Hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Rong
authors.forename: Long-Guang
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000032:analysis; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005973:Glutamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C495347:Tlr4 protein, rat; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D005973:Glutamine; D053148:Caspase 3