OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of different nutritional routes of giving nutrition on the intestinal mucus barrier in severely scalded rats.

METHODSWistar rats inflicted with 30% TBSA III degree scalding on the back were employed as the model and were randomly divided into 3 groups, i.e. control (C), parenteral nutrition (PN) and enteral nutrition (EN) groups. The rats in PN and EN groups were supplied with equal amount of nitrogen and calories and with equal volume of nutrition solution. The dynamic changes in the thickness of intestinal mucus layer and the contents of protein, hexose and acetylneuraminate in the mucus were examined.

RESULTSWhen compared with those in C group, the intestinal mucus layer became thinner and the contents of protein, hexose and acetylneuraminate in the mucus in both PN and EN groups decreased evidently after scalding. When compared between two nutritional groups, the thickness of intestinal mucus layer and the contents of the hexose and acetylneuraminate in the mucus in EN were much thicker and higher than those in PN group, while the mucus protein content exhibited no obvious difference between PN and EN groups.

CONCLUSIONIt was suggested that intestinal goblet cell synthesized and secreted less mucus after scalding in rats resulting in thinning of intestinal mucus layer and the change in mucus components. When compared with those in PN group, less injury to the intestinal goblet cells occurred and the intestinal mucus synthesis was less affected in EN group, and the components of intestinal mucus were maintained stable.