OBJECTIVETo explore the role of glutamine in LPS and D-Gal induced acute hepatic injury.

METHODSA total of 61 Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, model group and GLN pretreated group. The animal model was established by LPS and D-Gal intraperitoneal injection. GLN at dose of 1 g/kg was intragastrically administrated for 7 d before intraperitoneal injection. To evaluate the hepatic injury, the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin (TBiL) were detected by automatic biochemistry analysator. The liver and bowel tissue was observed by lightmicroscope and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The apoptosis of hepatocyte was detected by TUNEL. HPLC-PED was used in the study of intestinal permeability.

RESULTSNo significant differences were noted between ALT, AST, TBIL level, death rate and intestinal permeability (L/M) between model group and GLN pretreated group; In microscope, the confused structure of hepatic injury and inflammatory infiltration were similar between model group and GLN pretreated group. The injury of bowel was not obviously. Compared with the model group, there was better trend in liver and bowel in GLN pretreated group by transmission electron microscope (TEM). The apoptosis index in GLN pretreated group were lower than those in model group.

CONCLUSIONLPS can induce acute liver injury in D-Gal-sensitized rats.Glutamine has't the trend of protecting liver function and intestinal barrier function,decreasing death rates.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Female ; Glutamine ; administration & dosage ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; enzymology ; physiology ; Liver ; drug effects ; injuries ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of sacral nerve root electrostimulation (SNS) on the colon function and its mechanisms in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHODSOne hundred and four Wistar rats were divided into three groups: A, B and C. A group ( n = 24) was divided into three subgroups (n = 8) for studying the bioelectricity: Normal group (NG), SCI group (SCI) and SCI group with SNS(SNS); B group( n = 24) was divided into three subgroups( n = 8) for studying the colon motility: NG, SCI and SNS. C group( n = 56) were divided into three groups for studying the change of morphology and neurotransmitters(SP and VIP): NG (n = 8), SCI (n = 24), and SNS (n = 24) . In SCI and SNS, included of three subgroups: 24, 48, 72 h after spinal cord injury (n = 8).

RESULTSIn SCI group, the activity of bioelectricity in proximal and distal colon was reduced; the colon motility was lessened, and colon mucosa appeared different degree of damage; cell-cell connections between intestinal epithelial cells were destroyed. The expressions of substance P(SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in colon were decreased obviously. SNS was found to activate the bioelectricity, promote the colon motility, improve the intestinal mucosal, and increase the expressions of SP and VIP. Conclusion: SNS can activate the peristalsis, rehabilitate the motility of denervated colon, protection of the intestinal mechanical barrier between intestinal epithelial cells and tight junction, rebuild the colon function through activating the bioelectricity and increase the expressions of SP and VIP.

Animals ; Colon ; physiopathology ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; Lumbosacral Region ; innervation ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; therapy ; Substance P ; metabolism ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the treatment and mechanism of compound carraghenates suppository to rat acute rectal mucous injury.

METHODSThe model of rat acute rectal mucous injury was established by 3% acetic acid. Two hundred and forty rats were divided equally into control and experimental group. The rats of experimental group were administrated with 20 mg carraghenates suppository via rectum twice a day, but rats of control group were not administrated with carraghenates suppository. Thirty rats in both groups were executed at different time points. The pathologic changes were observed and the rectal mucous injury was scored. Immunohistochemical staining was used to evaluate the effect of carraghenates suppository on expression of VEGF, iNOS, IL-8, MMP9, HIF-1 alpha and PCNA in the two groups.

RESULTSThe scores of rectal mucous injury was lower, the pathologic changes such as hyperaemia, edema, destroy of glands were less severe, and tissue repair time was shorter in experimental group compared with those in the control group at 24 h, 78 h and 120 h after administration of carraghenates suppository. No obvious cicatrisation was observed in experimental group. Expression of VEGF and MMP9 was significantly lower in experimental group compared with those in the control group at 24 h after administration. Expression of VEGF, iNOS, IL-8, MMP9, HIF-1alpha and PCNA were statistically decreased in experimental group than those in the control group at 72 h, 120 h after administration. MVD in experimental group was statistically decreased than that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe compound carraghenates suppository can reduce the rectal mucous injury from 3% acetic acid, and accelerate the wound healing without obvious cicatrisation. The compound carraghenates suppository can reduce the expression of MMP9, VEGF, IL-8, PCNA, iNOS and HIF-1 alpha, which may play a role in its protective mechanism.

Animals ; Carrageenan ; therapeutic use ; Disease Models, Animal ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; injuries ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rectum ; Suppositories ; therapeutic use ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of L-arginine (L-Arg) on intestinal mucosal cell apoptosis in rats with severe abdominal infection.

METHODSEighteen Wistar rats were randomized into 3 groups, namely the CLP group (n=6) in which the rats were subjected to cecal ligation plus puncture (CLP) to induce severe abdominal infection, L-Arg group (n=6) where the rats received 300 mg/kg peritoneal L-Arg injection following CLP establishment, and the control group (n=6) where the rats underwent ventrotomy only. Intestinal epithelial apoptotic cells were quantified in each group using TUNEL assay 24 h after the operation.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the rats in CLP and L-Arg groups showed significantly increased number of apoptotic cells in the intestinal epithelium 24 h after the operation (P<0.001). The apoptotic index (AI) in the L-Arg group (18.1-/+2.2) was significantly lower than that in CLP group (20.8-/+2.3, P=0.038).

CONCLUSIONSevere abdominal infection results in increased apoptosis of the intestinal epithelial cells in rats, and L-Arg treatment may reduce the cell apoptosis.

Abdominal Cavity ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; Cecum ; injuries ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Infection ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Intestinal Mucosa ; cytology ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the protective effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the intestinal barrier dysfunction in rats after extensive abdominal radiation with X ray.

METHODSTwenty-four Spraque-Dawley male rats were divided into normal control group (n=8), radiation group (n=8), and radiation+NAC group (300 mg/kg) (n=8). Radiation injury was induced by X ray with a single dose of 10 Gy. NAC was administered from 4 days before irradiation to 3 days after radiation. Three days after radiation, all the rats were euthanized. The terminal ileum was collected for crypt survival assay and ileal villi count. The tissue samples from mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), spleen, and liver were harvested under sterile conditions for microbiological analysis and ileum samples were harvested for biochemical analysis. The blood levels of D-lactate, endotoxin and diamine oxidase (DAO) and the ileum samples levels of nitric oxide(NO) were also measured.

RESULTSRats in radiation+NAC group had a higher survival rate of intestinal crypt [(76.84+/-4.82)% vs (49.64+/-5.48)%, P<0.01], higher intestinal villus count [(8.56+/-0.68)/mm vs (4.02+/-0.54)/mm, P<0.01], lower NO concentration [(0.48+/-0.12) mumol/g vs (0.88+/-0.16) mumol/g, P<0.01], lower levels of D-lactate, endotoxin and DAO (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and significantly decreased enteric bacteria cultured from mesenteric lymph nodes and other tissues as compared with the radiation group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONNAC protects the small intestine from radiation-induced injury maybe through the inhibition of NO in rats.

Acetylcysteine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Intestine, Small ; drug effects ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis ; Radiation Injuries ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; X-Rays ; adverse effects

The radioprotective activity of extracts from the red seaweed Callophyllis (C.) japonica was investigated in mice that underwent whole-body exposure to gamma radiation. A methanol extract of C. japonica and its fractions [hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), butanol and the remaining H(2)O] were used. Each fraction (100 mg/kg body weight) was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) 2 times into the BALB/c mice, once at 1 and once at 24 h before exposure to 9 Gray (Gy) of gamma radiation. Pre-irradiation administration of the hexane and EtOAc fractions saved the mice, with their survival rates being greater than 80% at 30 days post-irradiation; the mice that were pretreated with the other fractions showed survival rates lower than 20% over the same time period. To examine the effect of each C. japonica fraction on the survival of intestinal and bone marrow stem cells, the number of intestinal crypts and bone marrow cells in the gamma-irradiated mice were examined. Pre-treatment of mice (i.p., 100 mg/kg body weight at 1 and 24 h before irradiation) with the hexane or EtOAc fraction prior to 6-Gy irradiation significantly protected the number of jejunal crypts and bone marrow cells at 9 days after irradiation. These findings suggest that certain extracts from C. japonica, when they are administered prior to irradiation, play an important role in the survival of irradiated mice, and this is possibly due to the extracts protecting the hematopoietic cells and intestinal stem cells against gamma irradiation.
Acetates ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells/drug effects/*radiation effects ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Female ; Gamma Rays ; Hexanes ; Intestinal Mucosa/cytology/drug effects/radiation effects ; Jejunum/cytology/drug effects/radiation effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental/prevention & control ; Radiation-Protective Agents/*pharmacology ; *Seaweed ; Whole-Body Irradiation/*veterinary

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of astragalus polysaccharide (AP) on the intestinal mucosal morphology, level of secretory IgA (s-IgA) in intestinal mucus, and distribution of T lymphocyte subsets in Peyer's patch in rats with severe scald injury.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty SD rats were divided into sham injury group (SI, sham injured, n = 10), scald group (S, n = 30), low dosage group (LD, n = 30), moderate dosage group (MD, n = 30), and high dosage group (HD, n = 30) according to the random number table. Rats in the latter 4 groups were inflicted with 30% TBSA full-thickness scald on the back. From post injury hour 2, rats in groups LD, MD, and HD were intraperitoneally injected with 0.5 mL AP solution with the dosage of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg each day respectively, and rats in group S were injected with 0.5 mL normal saline instead. Ten rats from group SI immediately after injury and 10 rats from each of the latter 4 groups on post injury day (PID) 3, 7, 14 were sacrificed, and their intestines were harvested. The morphology of ileal mucosa was examined after HE staining; the level of s-IgA in ileal mucus was determined with double-antibody sandwich ELISA method; the proportions of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ T lymphocytes in Peyer's patches of intestine were determined with flow cytometer, and the proportion of CD4⁺ to CD8⁺ was calculated. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance, analysis of variance of factorial design, and SNK test.

RESULTS(1) Villi in normal form and intact villus epithelial cells were observed in rats of group SI immediately after injury, while edema of villi and necrosis and desquamation of an enormous amount of villi were observed in groups with scalded rats on PID 3, with significant infiltration of inflammatory cells. On PID 7, no obvious improvement in intestinal mucosal lesion was observed in groups with scalded rats. On PID 14, the pathology in intestinal mucosa of rats remained nearly the same in group S, and it was alleviated obviously in groups LD and MD, and the morphology of intestinal mucosa of rats in group HD was recovered to that of group SI. (2) On PID 3, 7, and 14, the level of s-IgA in intestinal mucus significantly decreased in groups S, LD, MD, and HD [(43 ± 5), (45 ± 5), (46 ± 5) µg/mL; (47 ± 5), (48 ± 5), (49 ± 6) µg/mL; (50 ± 6), (51 ± 5), (52 ± 5) µg/mL; (53 ± 6), (54 ± 5), (55 ± 5) µg/mL] as compared with that of rats in group SI immediately after injury [(69 ± 4) µg/mL, with P values below 0.05]. The level of s-IgA in intestinal mucus of rats in group MD was significantly higher than that in group S at each time point (with P values below 0.05), and that of group HD was significantly higher than that in groups S and LD at each time point (with P values below 0.05). (3) Compared with those of rats in group SI immediately after injury, the proportions of CD3⁺ T lymphocytes and CD4⁺ T lymphocytes significantly decreased in groups with scalded rats at each time point (with P values below 0.05), except for those in group HD on PID 14. The proportion of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes of rats in group LD was significantly higher than that in group S on PID 3 (P < 0.05). The proportions of CD3⁺ T lymphocytes and CD4⁺ T lymphocytes were significantly higher in groups MD and HD than in groups S and LD (except for the proportion of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes in group MD on PID 3 and 14) at each time point (with P values below 0.05). The proportion of CD3⁺ T lymphocytes on PID 7 and 14 and that of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes on PID 3 were significantly higher in group HD than in group MD (with P values below 0.05). Compared with that of rats in group SI immediately after injury, the proportion of CD8⁺ T lymphocytes significantly increased in the other 4 groups at each time point (with P values below 0.05). The proportion of CD8⁺ T lymphocytes was significantly lower in rats of group LD on PID 7 and 14 and groups MD and HD at each time point than in group S (with P values below 0.05). The proportion of CD8⁺ T lymphocytes was significantly lower in rats of group MD on PID 7 and 14 and group HD at each time point than in group LD (with P values below 0.05). The proportion of CD8⁺ T lymphocytes was significantly lower in rats of group HD on PID 7 and 14 than in group MD (with P values below 0.05). On PID 3, 7, and 14, the proportion of CD4⁺ to CD8⁺ was significantly lower in groups S, LD, MD, and HD (0.65 ± 0.11, 0.68 ± 0.13, 0.73 ± 0.22; 0.76 ± 0.15, 0.78 ± 0.14, 0.90 ± 0.10; 0.85 ± 0.21, 0.89 ± 0.18, 1.08 ± 0.19; 0.99 ± 0.20, 1.05 ± 0.21, 1.25 ± 0.23) as compared with that of rats in group SI immediately after injury (1.74 ± 0.20, with P values below 0.05). The proportion of CD4⁺ to CD8⁺ was significantly higher in rats of group HD than in group MD on PID 7 (P < 0.05), and the proportion was significantly higher in these two groups than in group S at each time point (with P values below 0.05). The proportion of CD4⁺ to CD8⁺ was significantly higher in rats of group MD on PID 14 and group HD at each time point than in group LD (with P values below 0.05). Compared within each group, the proportions of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ T lymphocytes and the proportion of CD4⁺ to CD8⁺ of rats in groups LD, MD, and HD showed a trend of gradual elevation along with passage of time.

CONCLUSIONSAP can improve the injury to intestinal mucosa and modulate the balance of T lymphocyte subsets in Peyer's patch in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and it can promote s-IgA secretion of intestinal mucosa in a dose-dependent manner.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; adverse effects ; Burns ; immunology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Immunoglobulin A ; metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; physiology ; Intestine, Small ; metabolism ; Peyer's Patches ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Polysaccharides ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of baicalin on the intestinal mucosal injury caused by endotoxin-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the anti-oxidative injury in colonic and ileal mucosa of rats with septicopyemia.

METHODFifty healthy male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: the normal control group, the model group, and baicalin high-dose, medium-dose and low-dose groups. They were orally administered with double distilled water, 100 mg x kg(-1) of baicalin, 50 mg x kg(-1) of baicalin, and 25 mg x kg(-1) of baicalin respectively for three days, once a day. 1 h after the oral administration on 3 d, they were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline or LPS (17 mg x kg(-1)). At 20 h after the injection of LPS, all of the mice were sacrificed, and their colonic and ileal tissues were collected. The mental status, life state and death rate of mice in each group were observed, and the lengths of colonic were measured. Chiu's scoring method was used to assess the intestinal mucosal injury. Histopathological changes of intestinal tissues were tested by HE staining. The ultraviolet spectrophotometry was used to detect total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) of intestinal homogenate. The immunohistochemical method was used to analyze the expression of PCNA in intestinal tissues of each group.

RESULTThe death of mice was observed after the intraperitoneal injection of LPS. The death rates of baicalin groups were remarkably lower than the death rate of the model group. The colons in the medium-dose baicalin group were much longer than that in the model group (P < 0.05), with a much lower intestinal mucosa injury degree than the model group. Colonic and ileal injuries in the high-dose baicalin group significantly (P < 0.05). Colonic and ileal injuries in the medium-dose baicalin group and the low-dose baicalin group significantly reduced compare with the model group (P < 0.000 1). The medium-dose baicalin group showed no significant increase in homogenate's T-AOC, T-SOD and GSH-PX compare with the model group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between baicalin groups and the model group in PCNA.

CONCLUSIONBaicalin can protect intestinal epithelial cells suffering from injury from oxygen radicals, and relieve the intestinal injury caused by LPS by improving the intestinal mucosa structure and functions.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Humans ; Ileum ; drug effects ; enzymology ; injuries ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; enzymology ; injuries ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Sepsis ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aims of this study were to compare the bowel-cleansing efficacy, patient affinity for the preparation solution, and mucosal injury between a split dose of poly-ethylene glycol (SD-PEG) and low-volume PEG plus ascorbic acid (LV-PEG+Asc) in outpatient scheduled colonoscopies. METHODS: Of the 319 patients, 160 were enrolled for SD-PEG, and 159 for LV-PEG+Asc. The bowel-cleansing efficacy was rated according to the Ottawa bowel preparation scale. Patient affinity for the preparation solution was assessed using a questionnaire. All mucosal injuries observed during colonoscopy were biopsied and histopathologically reviewed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in bowel cleansing between the groups. The LV-PEG+Asc group reported better patient acceptance and preference. There were no significant differences in the incidence or characteristics of the mucosal injuries between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with SD-PEG, LV-PEG+Asc exhibited equivalent bowel-cleansing efficacy and resulted in improved patient acceptance and preference. There was no significant difference in mucosal injury between SD-PEG and LV-PEG+Asc. Thus, the LV-PEG+Asc preparation could be used more effectively and easily for routine colonoscopies without risking significant mucosal injury.
Adult ; Ascorbic Acid/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Cathartics/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Colonoscopy/methods ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa/drug effects/*injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Compliance ; Patient Satisfaction ; Polyethylene Glycols/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Preoperative Care/*adverse effects/methods ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vitamins/administration & dosage/adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of actovegin (Nycomed, deproteinized hemoderivative of calf blood injection) on intestinal mucosa in rats with acute radiation enteritis, and observe the changes of expression of apoptosis-related bcl-2/bax genes.

METHODSAn abdominal irradiation in a dose of 9.0 Gy X-ray of linear accelerator was performed once on a group of Wistar rats to establish a model of acute intestinal radiation enteritis. The experimental rats were randomly divided into five groups. Group 1 was normal control group; group 2 was model control group; groups 3, 4 and 5 were treated with low, middle and high dose of actovegin, respectively. After the model was established, actovegin injection was given intraperitoneally for successive 4 days. Corresponding intestinal tissues were taken for morphological examination with an image analysis system. The expression of apoptosis related bax and bcl-2 protein in the intestinal mucosal epithelial cells was determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe groups 4 and 5 had significantly higher height of intestinal villi, the depth of crypt, the thickness of the mucosa and entire wall (254.66/261.71 microm, 166.47/165.41 microm, 510.44/511.71 microm, 610.38/608.98 microm), compared with those of the model control group (239.12 microm, 151.45 microm, 420.27 microm and 579.32 microm), respectively (P < 0.05). Treatment with middle and high doses of actovegin also significantly down-regulated the expression of activating apoptosis protein bax (24.54/23.24) compared with that of model control group (59.32) (P < 0.05) and up-regulated the expression of inhibiting apoptosis protein bcl-2 (55.54/52.21) compared with that of model control group (20.32) (P < 0.05). The ratio of bcl-2/bax was significantly higher in the groups 4 and 5 (2.2632, 2.1275) compared with that in the model control group (0.3425) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONActovegin accelerates the recovery of the acute radiation-injured intestinal mucosal epithelium by decreasing apoptosis via down-regulation of the expression of activating apoptosis protein bax and up-regulation of inhibiting apoptosis protein bcl-2.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Enteritis ; etiology ; metabolism ; Heme ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Jejunum ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Male ; Particle Accelerators ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Radiation Injuries ; complications ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism