Growth hormone and nutrition as protective agents against methotrexate induced enteritis.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether exogenously administered growth hormone can reduce or prevent chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucosa injury. The expected results will allow to consider its potential clinical use.

DESIGN

Experimental and randomized study.

SETTING

Experimental Surgery Service, La Paz University Hospital.

SUBJECTS

Adult Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A chemotherapy protocol with methotrexate (MTX) (120 mg/kg) was employed. Animals fed either with a normoproteic or a hyperproteic liquid diet were treated with either saline or growth hormone (1 mg/kg/day) since three days before until four days after chemotherapy. Animals were sacrificed seven days after MTX administration for tissue sampling.

RESULTS

Co-administration of growth hormone and a hyperproteic diet increased intestinal crypt proliferation and reduced MTX-induced apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Jejunal mucosal structure (morphometry), proliferation (Ki-67) and apoptosis (TUNNEL) were assessed.