title: Effect of glutamine on the mRNA level of key enzymes of malate-aspartate shuttle in the rat intestine subjected to ischemia reperfusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of oral L-glutamine (L-Gln) and the dipeptide L-alanyl-glutamine (L-Ala-Gln) upon the activity of the malate-aspartate shuttle in the rat distal small intestine following ischemia and reperfusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-two Wistar rats (350-400g), were randomized in 2 groups (n = 36): group S (Sham) and Group T (Treatment) and divided into 12 subgroups (n = 6): A-A6, and B1-B6. The subgroups A1-A3 were subjected to sham procedures at 30 and 60 minutes. Thirty minutes before the study, rats were treated with calcium caseinate, 0.5g/Kg (subgroups A1, A4, B1, B4), L-Gln, 0.5g / kg (subgroups A2, A5, B2 and B5) or L-Ala-Gln, 0.75g/Kg (subgroups A3, A6, B3, B6), administered by gavage. Ischemia was achieved by clamping the mesenteric vessels, delimiting a segment of bowel 5 cm long and 5 cm apart from the ileocecal valve. Samples were collected 30 and 60 minutes after start of the study for real-time PCR assay of malate dehydrogenases (MDH1-2) and aspartate-aminotransferases (GOT1-2) enzymes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tissue MDH and GOT mRNA expression in intestinal samples from rats preconditioned with either L-Gln or L-Ala-Gln showed no significant differences both during ischemia and early reperfusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Activation of the malate-aspartate shuttle system appears not to be the mechanism of glutamine-mediated elevation of glucose oxidation in rat intestine during ischemia/reperfusion injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Federal University of Ceara, Rua Professor Costa Mendes 1608, Fortaleza-CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto Cavalcante de
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.forename: Claudio Duarte da
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Costa Neto
authors.forename: Raquel Cavalcante de
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.forename: Pedro Paulo Chaves de
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto Leitão
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.forename: Sérgio Botelho
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Guimarães
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005973:Glutamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000201:enzymology; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D008293:Malates / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000201:enzymology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004151:Dipeptides; D008293:Malates; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005973:Glutamine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; C054122:alanylglutamine