Glutamine and Liver Dysfunction Elicited by Intestinal Ischemia- Reperfusion Injury

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IIR) injury affects other organs, like the liver. Glutamine may offer liver pro- tection, following IIR injury. Four groups of rats were studied. In Group A, the animals were subjected to 90 minutes of IIR. In Group B Alanyl-Glutamine dipeptide was administered prior to IIR. Group C, was the sham, and in Group D, the animals were given Alanyl-Glutamine dipeptide, only. Malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, and total glutathione were measured in liver tissue, and transaminases in the serum. Liver tissue samples were examined under electron microscopy. Malondialdehyde values in Groups A and B were significantly higher and total glutathione levels were significantly lower, compared to Groups C and D. SGPT values of Group A were significantly higher than Groups C and D. Electron microscopy examination of Group A animals showed endothelial cell degeneration. In Group B, hepatic cell changes were unremarkable. The administration of Alanyl-Glutamine dipeptide, prior to IIR, protected hepatocytes from oxidative in- jury.