Abstract
Purpose
To compare the adaptation processes of the remaining jejunum or ileum after extensive intestinal resection in a growing animal model.
Materials and Methods
Forty 21-day old rats were divided into four groups: JG: remaining jejunum group – ileal enterectomy; IG: ileum remaining group – jejunum enterectomy; SHAM: sham-operated group – open-and-close laparotomy; and NO: non-operated animals.
Results
After 3 weeks, JG and IG animals had decreased weights comparing to SHAM and NO animals (p = 0.017 and p = 0.005, respectively). The histomorphometric analysis showed that in JG animals the villi were higher than in SHAM, NO, and IG animals (p = 0.007, p = 0.008, and p = 0.01), the depth of crypts in JG and IG animals was greater than in NO and SHAM animals (p = 0.03, p = 0.002, and p = 0.003 respectively), and muscle layer thickness of the jejunum of JG animals had values greater than SHAM and NO animals (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). The Ki-67 expression in the ileum was higher in comparison with the jejunum (p = 0.014). The pro-apoptotic gene (Bax) expression was decreased in JG animals compared to IG, SHAM, and NO animals (p = 0.013, p = 0.024, and p = 0.021). The anti-apoptotic gene (Bcl-XL) expression was decreased in JG animals in comparison to IG and NO animals (p = 0.002 and p = 0.046) although it was increased in the colon of IG animals in comparison to JG, SHAM, and NO animals (p = 0.002, p = 0.001, and p = 0.001, respectively). The Bax/Bcl-XL ratio was higher in JG than in IG animals (p = 0.011).
Conclusion
Adaptive responses seemed to be more effective in the ileum than in the jejunum.
Disclosure Statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Author Contributions
Affonso Flávio Jorge Mussolino and Ana Cristina Aoun Tannuri performed the animal experiments; Josiane de Oliveira Gonçalves3, Suellen Serafini performed all laboratory studies and the statistical analyses; Uenis Tannuri was the responsible for the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.