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Intra-amniotic administration of l-glutamine promotes intestinal maturation and enteroendocrine stimulation in chick
Naama Reicher1, Tal Melkman-Zehavi1, Jonathan Dayan1
1Department of Animal Science, The Robert H. Smith, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 76100, Rehovot, Israel.
Insights
Administering l-glutamine (Gln) to chick embryos enhances small intestinal development. This nutrient stimulation promotes enterocyte growth, improves nutrient transporter function, and influences key hormones for intestinal maturation.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Gastroenterology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Initial nutritional stimuli are crucial for small intestinal maturation.
- l-glutamine (Gln) administration in chick embryos promotes enterocyte differentiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate Gln's effects on enterocyte morphology and function.
- To identify the enteroendocrine pathway involved in Gln-stimulated intestinal maturation.
Main Methods:
- Intra-amniotic administration of Gln to chick embryos at embryonic day 17.
- Analysis of enterocyte and microvilli dimensions post-hatch.
- Quantitative PCR to assess mRNA expression of nutrient transporters, tight junction proteins, and enteroendocrine hormones/receptors.
Main Results:
- Gln significantly increased enterocyte and microvilli dimensions by up to 20%.
- Upregulation of brush border nutrient transporters (PepT-1, SGLT-1) and tight junction proteins (TJP-1, TJP-2) was observed.
- Significant increases in GLP-2R, IGF-1, and IGF-1R mRNA expression indicated enhanced enteroendocrine signaling.
Conclusions:
- Nutrient stimulation via Gln promotes morphological and functional maturation of the developing small intestine.
- Gln influences enterocyte development through modulation of the enteroendocrine pathway, including GLP-2 and IGF signaling.
Abstract:
Initial nutritional stimulation is a key driving force for small intestinal maturation. In chick embryos, administration of l-glutamine (Gln) into the amniotic fluid stimulates early development of the small intestinal epithelium by promoting enterocyte differentiation. In this study, we evaluated the effects of intra-amniotic administration of Gln on enterocyte morphology and function, and elucidated a potential enteroendocrine pathway through which Gln stimulates small intestinal maturation. Our results show that Gln stimulation at embryonic day 17 significantly increased enterocyte and microvilli dimensions by 10 and 20%, respectively, within 48 h. Post-hatch, enterocytes and microvilli were 20% longer in Gln-treated chicks. Correspondingly, Gln stimulation significantly upregulated mRNA expression of brush border nutrient transporters PepT-1 and SGLT-1 and tight junction proteins TJP-1 and TJP-2, before and after hatch (P < 0.05). Since GLP-2 signaling from intestinal L-cells is associated with enterocyte growth, functionality and integrity, we examined the effects of Gln stimulation on mRNA expression of key hormones and receptors within this enteroendocrine pathway and found significant increases in GLP-2R, IGF-1 and IGF-1R expression before and after hatch (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our findings link primary nutrient stimulation in the developing small intestine with enterocyte morphological and functional maturation and enteroendocrine signaling.
