[Effects of glutamine given through different avenues on intestine mucosal barrier function in burned rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of glutamine given through different avenues on intestine mucosal barrier damage induced by severe burn injury. METHODS: One hundred and sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: namely normal control (C group), burned control (B group), parenteral nutrition with glutamine (PN+GLN group) and enteral nutrition with glutamine (EN+GLN group). Rats in B group, PN+GLN group, and EN+GLN group were subjected to 30% total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness burn injury. In the latter three groups, nutritional intake was isonitrogenous and isocaloric. In PN+GLN group and EN+GLN group the nutrition were supplemented with glutamine 1.0 g.kg(-1).d(-1), and in B group tyrosine 1.0 g.kg(-1).d(-1). Indexes relevant to injury to the intestine were determined on postburn day (PBD) 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10. RESULTS: After burn injury, the index of intestinal mucosal injury, intestine mucosal permeability and the activity of plasma diamine oxidase (DAO) were significant increased compared with C group (all P<0.01). On the other hand, the intestine mucosal blood flow (IMBF), mucosa thickness, villous height, crypt depth and intestinal epithelial proliferation index were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with B group, the extent of changes in these indices were lowered in PN+GLN group and EN+GLN group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the effects were more marked in EN+GLN group than those in PN+GLN group. CONCLUSION: GLN is beneficial in minimizing intestinal injury, promoting intestinal mucosal repair. Enteral supplementation of GLN is a better way of administration.