OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of different enteral nutrients on intestinal absorptive capacity and ATP content of intestinal mucosa after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) of the intestine. METHODS: A segment of jejunum was isolated to form a pouch in Sprague-Dawley rats. The jejunal pouches of animals were filled with either a mixture of nutrients (5 mmol/L alanine + 5 mmol/L glucose), glucose alone (10 mmol/L), alanine alone (10 mmol/L) or mannitol alone (10 mmol/L) as a nonabsorbable osmotic control. The superior mesenteric artery was then occluded for 60 minutes, followed by reperfusion for 60 minutes. Gut absorptive capacity, as measured by the changes in short circuit current (DeltaIsc), and mucosal ATP content were determined both at the end of 60 minutes ischemia and 60 minutes of reperfusion. RESULTS: DeltaIsc and ATP levels were decreased after I/R. Intraluminal alanine alone or alanine/glucose mixture further reduced DeltaIsc and ATP content. On the other hand, intraluminal glucose significantly increased DeltaIsc and ATP levels compared with intraluminal alanine, alanine/glucose mixture or I/R alone. CONCLUSION: Intraluminal alanine increases the absorptive capacity and energy metabolism of the gut caused by I/R, and indicated that intraluminal glucose improves gut absorptive capacity and energy metabolism and provides a protective effect on gut from ischemia and reperfusion injury.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of different enteral nutrients on intestinal absorptive capacity and ATP content of intestinal mucosa after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) of the intestine. METHODS: A segment of jejunum was isolated to form a pouch in Sprague-Dawley rats. The jejunal pouches of animals were filled with either a mixture of nutrients (5 mmol/L alanine + 5 mmol/L glucose), glucose alone (10 mmol/L), alanine alone (10 mmol/L) or mannitol alone (10 mmol/L) as a nonabsorbable osmotic control. The superior mesenteric artery was then occluded for 60 minutes, followed by reperfusion for 60 minutes. Gut absorptive capacity, as measured by the changes in short circuit current (DeltaIsc), and mucosal ATP content were determined both at the end of 60 minutes ischemia and 60 minutes of reperfusion. RESULTS: DeltaIsc and ATP levels were decreased after I/R. Intraluminal alanine alone or alanine/glucose mixture further reduced DeltaIsc and ATP content. On the other hand, intraluminal glucose significantly increased DeltaIsc and ATP levels compared with intraluminal alanine, alanine/glucose mixture or I/R alone. CONCLUSION: Intraluminal alanine increases the absorptive capacity and energy metabolism of the gut caused by I/R, and indicated that intraluminal glucose improves gut absorptive capacity and energy metabolism and provides a protective effect on gut from ischemia and reperfusion injury.