O papel da glutamina nas alterações intestinais da hipertensão portal em ratos submetidos ao modelo experimental de ligadura parcial da veia porta

Abstract

Aims: The aim of the present study was to evaluate possible preventative effects of glutamine in an animal model of PH induced by partial portal vein ligation (PPVL). Materials and methods: Twenty four male Wistar rats were divided into four experimental groups: (1) control group (Control) – rats underwent exploratory laparotomy; (2) control + glutamine group (Control + G) – rats were subjected to laparotomy and treated intraperitoneally with glutamine; (3) portal hypertension group (PPVL) – rats were subjected to PPVL; and (4) PPVL+ glutamine group (PPVL + G) – rats were treated intraperitoneally with glutamine during seven days. Local injuries were determined by evaluating intestinal segments for oxidative stress using lipid peroxidation, the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), eNOS and iNOS after PPVL. Results: Lipid peroxidation of the membrane was increased in the animals subjected to PH (P < 0.01). However, the group that received glutamine for seven days after the PPVL procedure showed levels of lipid peroxidation similar to the control groups (P > 0.05). The activity of the antioxidant enzyme GTx was decreased in the gut of animals subjected to PH when compared with the control group of animals not subjected to PH (P < 0.01). However, the group that received glutamine for seven days after the PPVL showed similar GTx activity to both control groups not subjected to PH (P > 0.05). The mean area of eNOS staining for each of the control groups was similar. The PH group showed the largest area of staining for eNOS. The PPVL + G group had the second highest amount of staining, but the mean value was much lower than that of the PH group (P < 0.01). For iNOS, control (SO) and control + G (SO + G) groups showed similar areas of staining. The PH group contained the largest area of iNOS staining, followed by the PPVL + G group; however, this area was significantly smaller than that of the group that underwent PH without glutamine (P < 0.01). Conclusions: These results demonstrate that pretreatment with glutamine prevents mucosal injury and improves gut recovery after portal hypertension injury in rats.