title: L-glutamine supplementation prevents myenteric neuron loss and has gliatrophic effects in the ileum of diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peripheral neuropathy caused chronically by diabetes mellitus is related to exacerbation of oxidative stress and a significant reduction in important endogenous antioxidants. L: -Glutamine is an amino acid involved in defense mechanisms and is a substrate for the formation of glutathione, the major endogenous cellular antioxidant.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the effects of 2% L: -glutamine supplementation on peripheral diabetic neuropathy and enteric glia in the ileum in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: normoglycemics (N), normoglycemics supplemented with L: -glutamine (NG), diabetics (D), and diabetics supplemented with L: -glutamine (DG). After 120 days, the ileums were processed for HuC/D and S100 immunohistochemistry. Quantitative and morphometric analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diabetes significantly reduced the number of HuC/D-immunoreactive myenteric neurons per unit area and per ganglion in group D compared with normoglycemic animals (group N). L: -Glutamine (2%) prevented neuronal death induced by diabetes (group DG) compared with group D. The glial density per unit area did not change with diabetes (group D) but was significantly reduced after L: -glutamine supplementation (groups NG and DG). Ganglionic glial density was similar among the four groups. The neuronal area was not altered in groups D and DG. Glial size was reduced in group D; this was reversed by L: -glutamine supplementation (group DG).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that 2% L: -glutamine had neuroprotective effects directly on myenteric neurons and indirectly through glial cells, which had gliatrophic effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Avenida Colombo, nº 5790 Bloco H-79, Maringá, PR, CEP 87020-900, Brazil. renatapharma@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Renata Virginia Fernandes
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Eleandro Aparecido
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Tronchini
authors.forename: Cristiano Massao
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tashima
authors.forename: Eder Paulo Belato
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Mariana Machado
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Jacqueline Nelisis
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Zanoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D005973:Glutamine