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Erschienen in:
01.03.2012 | Original Article
Glutamine prevents intestinal mucosal injury induced by cyclophosphamide in rats
Erschienen in: Pediatric Surgery International | Ausgabe 3/2012
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Purpose
High doses of anticancer drugs often damage the intestinal mucosa. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of glutamine on mucosal damage induced by cyclophosphamide in a rat model, and to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for its protective effects.
Method
Rats were randomly assigned to one of the three experimental groups. Group A (control) (n = 8): intraperitoneal injection of saline, group B (n = 8): intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (300 mg/kg), group C (n = 8): intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (300 mg/kg) and oral glutamine (1.0 g/kg). After 3 days, the ileal segment was removed for morphological and the biochemical analyses. We also evaluated the level of mucosal apoptosis by the TUNEL method and enterocyte proliferation using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU).
Results
Mucosal atrophy was observed in group B but not in groups A or C. The mucosal wet weight, protein and glutathione levels were significantly decreased in group B compared with group A, and were increased significantly in group C compared with group B. While enterocyte proliferation significantly decreased and the apoptotic index significantly increased in group B compared with group A, a significant increase in the enterocyte proliferation and a significant decrease in apoptosis were observed in group C compared with group B.
Conclusions
Glutamine prevented intestinal mucosal injury induced by cyclophosphamide via increased glutathione, decreased apoptosis and increased proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells.