Effect of glutamine supplementation on left colon healing in rats with extrahepatic biliary obstruction.

PURPOSE To evaluate the influence of glutamine and obstructive jaundice on left colon healing in rats. METHODS Sixteen male rats were allocated across four groups: LG--Common bile duct ligation followed by colotomy and bowel suture on postoperative day 7. Supplementation with glutamine 2% from day 4 after duct ligation until euthanasia. L--Common bile duct ligation followed by colotomy and bowel suture on postoperative day 7. No glutamine supplementation. M--Common bile duct manipulation followed by colotomy and bowel suture on postoperative day 7. No glutamine supplementation. MG--Common bile duct manipulation followed by colotomy and bowel suture on postoperative day 7. Supplementation with glutamine 2% from day 4 after duct manipulation until euthanasia. On the day of euthanasia, bursting pressure of the sutured bowel segment was measured and samples were collected for histopathological analysis. RESULTS There were no differences in bursting pressure among groups : LG vs. M (110 ± 28 vs. 173 ± 12; p = 0.08). Groups L and MG were not different from group M (156 ± 12 and 118 ± 22. Glutamine supplementation was associated with less edema, polymorphonuclear lymphocyte infiltration, bacterial colonies, and abscess formation, as well as with increased collagen formation. CONCLUSION Obstructive jaundice had no negative effect and glutamine supplementation had no positive effect on colonic scar strength in rats.