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Glutamine and alanyl-glutamine accelerate the recovery from 5-fluorouracil-induced experimental oral mucositis in hamster

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Abstract

Introduction

Mucositis induced by anti-neoplastic drugs is an important, dose-limiting and costly side effect of cancer therapy.

Aim

To evaluate the effect of oral glutamine and alanyl-glutamine, a more stable glutamine derivative, on 5-FU-induced oral mucositis in hamsters.

Materials and methods

Oral mucositis was induced by two intraperitoneal (i.p) administrations of 5-FU on the first and second days of the experiment (60 and 40 mg/kg, respectively) followed by mechanical trauma on the fourth day in male hamsters. Animals received saline, glutamine or alanyl-glutamine suspension (100 mM) 1 h before the injections of 5-FU and daily until sacrifice, on the 10th or 14th day. Macroscopic and histopathological analyses were evaluated and graded. Tissues from the cheek pouches were harvested for measurement of myeloperoxidase activity and glutathione stores. For investigation of serum concentration of glutamine, blood was obtained by heart puncture from anesthetized animals before sacrifice, on day 10.

Results

Treatment with glutamine and alanyl-glutamine reduced macroscopic and histological parameters of oral mucositis, and reduced the myeloperoxidase activity on day 14, but not on day 10. The 5-FU-induced oral mucositis significantly decreased the serum glutamine levels as well as the cheek pouch glutathione stores observed on day 10. Glutamine or alanyl-glutamine administration reversed the 5-FU effects, restoring serum glutamine levels and cheek pouch glutathione stores, observed on day 10, but did not prevent oral mucositis on the tenth day.

Conclusion

Glutamine or alanyl-glutamine accelerated the mucosal recovery increasing mucosal tissue glutathione stores, reducing inflammatory parameters and speeding reepithelization.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Maria Silvandira França Pinheiro, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology and José Ivan Rodrigues de Sousa, Department of Morphology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil, and Jason Stone Martins Neto, Clementino Fraga Laboratory, Ceará, Brazil, for technical assistance. This work was supported by the Brazilian Agency for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq; grant 403676/2004-5) and Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (FUNCAP; grant 737/03).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil

    R. F. C. Leitão, R. A. Ribeiro, A. M. S. Lira, L. R. Silva, E. A. L. Bellaguarda, F. D. B. Macedo & R. B. Sousa

  2. Department of Morphology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil

    G. A. C. Brito

  3. Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Ceará, Rua Cel Nunes de Melo, 1127, CEP 60.430-270, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil

    G. A. C. Brito

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  1. R. F. C. Leitão
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  3. A. M. S. Lira
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Correspondence to G. A. C. Brito.

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Leitão, R.F.C., Ribeiro, R.A., Lira, A.M.S. et al. Glutamine and alanyl-glutamine accelerate the recovery from 5-fluorouracil-induced experimental oral mucositis in hamster. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 61, 215–222 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-007-0463-2

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