Effects of continuous enteral L-Arginine in a rat model of the short bowel syndrome

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether continuous enteral supplementation of L-arginine can stimulate intestinal adaptation in a rat model of short bowel syndrome (SBS). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups of 10 each: Sham rats underwent bowel transaction and received continuous enteral nutrition (Control group, Con group), SBS rats underwent 75% small bowel resection and received continuous enteral nutrition (SB group), and SBS rats underwent 75% bowel resection and received continuous enteral nutrition supplemented with L-arginine (300mg/Kg/d) (SB-Arg group). Fat absorbability, plasma free fatty acids, parameters of intestinal adaptation, enterocyte proliferation and apoptosis were determined on day 15 after operation. After massive small bowel resection, rats had significant bowel adaptation. Compared with SB untreated rats, SB rats supplemented with L-arginine demonstrated a significant increase in fat absorbability, plasma level of free fatty acids, ileal mucosal weight and DNA content, jejunal and ileal mucosal protein content, jejunal and ileal villus length, crypt depth and mucosal thickness. L-arginine supplementation increased enterocyte proliferation, while decreasing enterocyte apoptosis. We suggest that after massive small bowel resection, continuous enteral supplementation of L-arginine can stimulate intestinal adaptation. L-arginine may be a trophic factor to stimulate intestinal adaptation in rats of SBS.