OBJECTIVEGlutamine (Gln) is now considered as conditionally essential amino acid with many biological activities. This study aimed to investigate whether it has protective effects on the intestinal mucosal barrier in young rabbits under hemorrhagic shock.

METHODSEighteen young rabbits aged 26 +/- 3 days were randomly assigned into 3 groups: Control (no treatment), Low-dose Gln (L-Gln, 0.5 g/kg daily) and High-dose Gln (H-Gln, 1.0 g/kg daily) treatment groups. Gln was administered by gastric tube daily for 7 days and then hemorrhagic shock was induced by blood withdrawing from femoral artery. Plasma levels of diamine oxidase (DAO) and serum levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8) were measured before shock, and at 2, 6 and 24 hrs after resuscitation. Ileum tissues located approximately 5 cm away from the ileocecal valve was removed for histological examination, lymphocyte distribution, polymorphonuclear (PMN) count and assessing the height, width and surface area of the villi.

RESULTSPlasma levels of DAO and serum levels of IL-8 at 6 and 24 hrs after resuscitation in the L-Gln and the H-Gln groups decreased significantly compared with those of the Control group. L-Gln and H-Gln also resulted in a decrease in the PMN counts and the lymphocyte percentage in the ileum compared with the Control group. Exfoliation and atrophy of villous epithelial cells occurred and the height and surface area of villous were reduced in the Control group. The ileum morphology of the two Gln treatment groups was found to be nearly normal. There were no differences between the L-Gln and the H-Gln groups.

CONCLUSIONSGln within a therapeutic dose has protective effects on intestinal mucosal barrier in young rabbits under hemorrhagic shock.