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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
07:37
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Operation in Rats
Published on: June 11, 2012
Ghrelin improves burn-induced delayed gastrointestinal transit in rats
H S Sallam1, H M Oliveira, H T Gan
1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine and Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
Summary
Ghrelin treatment effectively normalized delayed gastric emptying and intestinal transit in burn-injured rats. These prokinetic effects, mediated by the cholinergic pathway, suggest ghrelin
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Endocrinology
- Surgical Research
Background:
- Severe burn injuries frequently cause delayed gastrointestinal transit, impacting patient recovery.
- Ghrelin, a peptide hormone, is known for its potent prokinetic (motility-stimulating) properties.
- Understanding ghrelin's effect on burn-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction is crucial for potential therapeutic interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the therapeutic potential of ghrelin in mitigating burn-induced delays in gastrointestinal transit in a rat model.
- To determine the efficacy of different ghrelin doses on gastric emptying, intestinal transit, and colonic transit following burn injury.
Main Methods:
- Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent sham or severe cutaneous burn injury under anesthesia.
- Ghrelin was administered intraperitoneally at varying doses (0, 2, 5, 10 nmol/rat) 6 hours post-injury.
- Gastric emptying, intestinal transit, and colonic transit were assessed using phenol red recovery assays and geometric center calculations. Cholinergic pathway involvement was tested using atropine.
Main Results:
- Severe burn injury significantly delayed gastric emptying (GE), intestinal transit (IT), and colonic transit (CT) compared to sham controls (P < 0.05).
- Ghrelin administration dose-dependently normalized both GE and IT, with 2 nmol/rat being the most effective dose.
- Ghrelin did not significantly affect CT, and its prokinetic effects on GE and IT were blocked by atropine, indicating cholinergic pathway mediation.
Conclusions:
- Ghrelin effectively reverses burn-induced delays in gastric emptying and intestinal transit in rats.
- Ghrelin's prokinetic actions on the upper gastrointestinal tract are mediated through the cholinergic system.
- Ghrelin demonstrates significant therapeutic potential for managing delayed upper gastrointestinal transit in burn patients.
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