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l-Glutamine Supplementation Prevents Myenteric Neuron Loss and Has Gliatrophic Effects in the Ileum of Diabetic Rats

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Abstract

Background

Peripheral neuropathy caused chronically by diabetes mellitus is related to exacerbation of oxidative stress and a significant reduction in important endogenous antioxidants. l-Glutamine is an amino acid involved in defense mechanisms and is a substrate for the formation of glutathione, the major endogenous cellular antioxidant.

Aim

This study investigated the effects of 2% l-glutamine supplementation on peripheral diabetic neuropathy and enteric glia in the ileum in rats.

Methods

Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: normoglycemics (N), normoglycemics supplemented with l-glutamine (NG), diabetics (D), and diabetics supplemented with l-glutamine (DG). After 120 days, the ileums were processed for HuC/D and S100 immunohistochemistry. Quantitative and morphometric analysis was performed.

Results

Diabetes significantly reduced the number of HuC/D-immunoreactive myenteric neurons per unit area and per ganglion in group D compared with normoglycemic animals (group N). l-Glutamine (2%) prevented neuronal death induced by diabetes (group DG) compared with group D. The glial density per unit area did not change with diabetes (group D) but was significantly reduced after l-glutamine supplementation (groups NG and DG). Ganglionic glial density was similar among the four groups. The neuronal area was not altered in groups D and DG. Glial size was reduced in group D; this was reversed by l-glutamine supplementation (group DG).

Conclusions

We concluded that 2% l-glutamine had neuroprotective effects directly on myenteric neurons and indirectly through glial cells, which had gliatrophic effects.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Ana Paula de Santi Rampazzo, Maria Euride do Carmo Cancino, and Maria dos Anjos Fortunato for their excellent technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Morphological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Avenida Colombo, nº 5790 Bloco H-79, Maringá, PR, CEP 87020-900, Brazil

    Renata Virginia Fernandes Pereira, Eleandro Aparecido Tronchini, Cristiano Massao Tashima, Eder Paulo Belato Alves, Mariana Machado Lima & Jacqueline Nelisis Zanoni

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  1. Renata Virginia Fernandes Pereira
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  2. Eleandro Aparecido Tronchini
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  6. Jacqueline Nelisis Zanoni
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Correspondence to Jacqueline Nelisis Zanoni.

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Pereira, R.V.F., Tronchini, E.A., Tashima, C.M. et al. l-Glutamine Supplementation Prevents Myenteric Neuron Loss and Has Gliatrophic Effects in the Ileum of Diabetic Rats. Dig Dis Sci 56, 3507–3516 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-011-1806-8

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