title: l-Glutamine supplementation promotes an improved energetic balance in Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats.
abstract: We evaluated the effects of supplementation with oral l-glutamine in Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats. A total of 32 male Wistar rats aged 54 days were randomly divided into four groups: rats without Walker-256 tumor, that is, control rats (C group); control rats supplemented with l-glutamine (CG group); Walker-256 tumor rats without l-glutamine supplementation (WT group); and WT rats supplemented with l-glutamine (WTG group). l-Glutamine was incorporated into standard food at a proportion of 2 g/100 g (2%). After 10 days of the experimental period, the jejunum and duodenum were removed and processed. Protein expression levels of key enzymes of gluconeogenesis, that is, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase, were analyzed by western blot and immunohistochemical techniques. In addition, plasma corticosterone, glucose, insulin, and urea levels were evaluated. The WTG group showed significantly increased plasma glucose and insulin levels ( p < 0.05); however, plasma corticosterone and urea remained unchanged. Moreover, the WTG group showed increased immunoreactive staining for jejunal phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and increased expression of duodenal glucose-6-phosphatase. Furthermore, the WTG group presented with less intense cancer cachexia and slower tumor growth. These results could be attributed, at least partly, to increased intestinal gluconeogenesis and insulinemia, and better glycemia maintenance during fasting in Walker-256 tumor rats on a diet supplemented with l-glutamine.
authors.affiliation: 1 Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil.
authors.forename: Heber Amilcar
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: 1 Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto Barbosa
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Bazotte
authors.affiliation: 1 Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil.
authors.forename: Geraldo Emilio
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Vicentini
authors.affiliation: 1 Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana Machado
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of General Pathology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flavia Alessandra
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Guarnier
authors.affiliation: 1 Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil.
authors.forename: Catchia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hermes-Uliana
authors.affiliation: 1 Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flavia Cristina Vieira
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Frez
authors.affiliation: 1 Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gleison Daion Piovezana
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Bossolani
authors.affiliation: 1 Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fracaro
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Biomedicine, UniCesumar, Maringá, Brazil.
authors.forename: Larissa Dos Santos
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Fávaro
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Biomedicine, UniCesumar, Maringá, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana Inocêncio
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Manzano
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Morphological Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jacqueline Nelisis
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Zanoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002100:Cachexia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002279:Carcinoma 256, Walker; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004386:Duodenum / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005943:Gluconeogenesis; D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D005973:Glutamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007583:Jejunum / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D019764:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (ATP) / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D005973:Glutamine; D014508:Urea; D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase; D019764:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (ATP); D003345:Corticosterone
keywords: Antitumor effect; glucose-6-phosphatase; glycemia; insulinemia; intestinal gluconeogenesis; phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase