Abstract:

BACKGROUND: As a necessary nitrogen provider in the processes of DNA and glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis, also a nitrogen source of plasma ammonia formation, L-glutamine is considered to play important roles in hepatic cell proliferation. But the functions and the mechanisms of L-glutamine in liver regeneration are not clearly studied and still need further investigation.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of dietary supplied L-glutamine on hepatic regeneration in a rat model of partial hepatectomy.
METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. Before partial hepatectomy, rats in the L-glutamine and L-alanine groups were orally administered 10% L-glutamine and 10% L-alanine, respectively. After partial hepatectomy, rats from these two groups were given water containing 10% L-glutamine and 10% L-alanine, respectively. The control group rats were allowed to drink water before and after partial hepatectomy.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 72 hours after partial hepatectomy, restituted liver mass was significantly greater in the L-glutamine group than in the control and L-alanine groups (P < 0.05). At 24 and 72 hours after partial hepatectomy, hepatocyte proliferation was more obvious in the L-glutamine group than in the control and L-alanine groups (P < 0.01; P < 0.05). At 24 and 72 hours after partial hepatectomy, there was no significant difference in total RNA level between L-glutamine and L-alanine groups and control groups. At 72 hours after partial hepatectomy, genomic DNA content was significantly greater in the L-glutamine group than in the control and L-alanine groups (P < 0.05). These results showed that application of high concentration L-glutamine in the perioperative stage of liver injury promotes hepatic regeneration in rats after partial hepatectomy, but L-alanine does not produce this effect.