Enteral glutamine administration prevents the decrease in cell energy charge potential produced in ileum after a skin...

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Biochemistry
• Burn Medicine

Background:

• Skin burns significantly impact cellular function, indicated by decreased cell energy charge potential (ECP).
• The gut mucosal barrier is compromised post-burn, with glutamine showing potential for improvement.
• The precise relationship between gut barrier changes, ECP, and glutamine's protective mechanism remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of burn injury on ECP and glutathione (GSH) levels in the rat ileum and liver.
• To determine the impact of oral glutamine supplementation on these burn-induced changes.
• To elucidate the mechanism of glutamine's protective effect in burn injury.

Main Methods:

• A 20% total body surface area full-thickness burn model was used in rats.
• Three groups were studied: control, burn alone, and burn with glutamine (1 g/kg/d orally).
• ECP and GSH content were measured in the ileum and liver at 1 and 6 days post-burn.

Main Results:

• A delayed decrease in ileal and liver ECP was observed 6 days post-burn.
• Oral glutamine administration prevented the ECP decline specifically in the ileum.
• Glutamine did not significantly alter liver ECP or affect GSH levels in either organ post-burn.

Conclusions:

• Burn injury induces a delayed reduction in ileal cell energy charge potential.
• Oral glutamine effectively preserves ileal ECP following burn injury.
• Glutamine likely protects the gut barrier by supplying cellular energy, not through enhanced antioxidant activity.