Ghrelin improves intestinal mucosal atrophy during parenteral nutrition: An experimental study.
OBJECTIVE
Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) has been reported to be associated with mucosal atrophy of the small intestine. Ghrelin has hormonal, orexigenic, and metabolic activities. We investigated whether ghrelin improved intestinal mucosal atrophy using a TPN-supported rat model.


METHODS
Rats underwent jugular vein catheterization and were divided into four groups: TPN alone (TPN), TPN plus low-dose ghrelin (TPNLG), TPN plus high-dose ghrelin (TPNHG), and oral feeding with normal chow (OF). Ghrelin was administered continuously at dosages of 10 or 50 μg/kg/day. On day 6 rats were euthanized, and the small intestine was harvested and divided into the jejunum and ileum. Then the villus height (VH) and crypt depth (CD) were evaluated.


RESULTS
The jejunal and ileal VH and CD in the TPN group were significantly decreased compared with those in the OF group. TPNHG improved only VH of the jejunum. TPNLG improved VH and CD of the jejunum and CD of the ileum. The improvement of TPNLG was significantly stronger than that in CD of the jejunum and ileum.


CONCLUSIONS
TPN was more strongly associated with mucosal atrophy in the jejunum than in the ileum. Low-dose intravenous administration of ghrelin improved TPN-associated intestinal mucosal atrophy more effectively than high-dose administration.
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Research Field in Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical and Dental Sciences Area, Research and Education Assembly, Kagoshima University.
Waka
W
Yamada
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Research Field in Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical and Dental Sciences Area, Research and Education Assembly, Kagoshima University.
Tatsuru
T
Kaji
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Research Field in Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical and Dental Sciences Area, Research and Education Assembly, Kagoshima University.
Shun
S
Onishi
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Research Field in Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical and Dental Sciences Area, Research and Education Assembly, Kagoshima University.
Kazuhiko
K
Nakame
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Research Field in Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical and Dental Sciences Area, Research and Education Assembly, Kagoshima University.
Koji
K
Yamada
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Research Field in Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical and Dental Sciences Area, Research and Education Assembly, Kagoshima University.
Takafumi
T
Kawano
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Research Field in Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical and Dental Sciences Area, Research and Education Assembly, Kagoshima University.
Motoi
M
Mukai
Department of Pathology and Oncology, Research Field in Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical and Dental Sciences Area, Research and Education Assembly, Kagoshima University.
Masakazu
M
Souda
National Center for Children Health and Development, Pathology.
Takako
T
Yoshioka
Department of Pathology and Oncology, Research Field in Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical and Dental Sciences Area, Research and Education Assembly, Kagoshima University.
Akihide
A
Tanimoto
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Research Field in Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical and Dental Sciences Area, Research and Education Assembly, Kagoshima University. Electronic address: sieiri@m.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp.
Satoshi
S
Ieiri
D000818:Animals; D001284:Atrophy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D054439:Ghrelin
Ghrelin; Mucosal atrophy; Parenteral nutrition