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 protection, 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-