The influence of intestinal resection on the growth of intestinal neomucosa

Intestinal resection stimulates proliferative activity in the intestinal remnant. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of intestinal resection on the growth of intestinal neomucosa. Forty-eight New Zealand white rabbits had 2 x 5-cm ileal defects patched with adjacent cecal serosal surface. Group I (n = 24) served as controls. Group II (n = 24) underwent simultaneous 50% enterectomy. Neomucosal coverage was significantly greater in Group II at 1 week (36 +/- 11% vs 67 +/- 9%, P less than 0.05) and 2 weeks (94 +/- 2% vs 99 +/- 1%, P less than 0.05), but was similar at 3 and 4 weeks. There was significantly more neomucosa at 1 week in the animals that underwent resection (134 +/- 55 mm2 vs 199 +/- 54 mm2, P less than 0.05). Degree of patch contraction, glucose uptake, and disaccharidase activities were similar in each group. Ornithine decarboxylase activity and crypt cell production rate were significantly greater at 1 week in the animals that underwent resection. Intestinal resection results in an early increase in neomucosal growth and increased proliferative activity. Since contraction of the patches occurs to a similar extent in both groups, the total amount of neomucosa was not increased. Thus, performing patching at the time of resection is not necessary for optimal growth.