Glutamine and recombinant human growth hormone (rHGH) attenuated bowel barrier function deterioration in rats receiving parenteral nutrition and chemotherapy

Objective To investigate the effect of glutamine (Gln) and recombinant growth hormone (rHGH) on bowel structure and barrier function. Methods 40 wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups. Chow group was given standard chow food. STD group fed with standard parenteral nutrition (PN); Gln group received standard PN + Gln dipeptide. Gln + rHGH group received standard PN + Gln dipeptide + rHGH. Rats in the 4 groups were given 5 Fu chemotherapy intraperitoneally. The body weight, jejunal mucosal morphology, bacterial translocation and intestinal permeability were measured. HPLC PED was used in the study of intestinal permeability. Results The villous height in the Gln+rHGH group was significantly higher than that in the other 3 groups [( 626.5 ± 23.5 ) vs ( 403.2 ± 19.5 ) μm, ( 548.3 ± 17.8 ) and ( 561.6 ± 16.3 ) μm respectively ( P 0.05 )]. Bacterialtranslocaton rate in Gln+rHGH and Chow groups were 20%, 30% in Gln group, significantly lower than that in STD group(80%, P 0.05 ). On the 8th day, STD group had the highest intestinal permeability ( 0.044 1 ± 0.006 5 ), significantly higher than in the other 3 groups (Chow group: 0.026 1 ± 0.003 2 , Gln group: 0.027 9 ± 0.004 4 and Gln+rHGH group: 0.027 5 ± 0.003 2 ). Conclusion Compared with Gln, Gln+rHGH had some additional effect on supporting bowel structure and barrier function. [