[An experimental study of the effects of early enteral feeding of L--arginine enriched food on postburn intestinal mucosal proliferation in rats].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of early enteral feeding of L -- arginine enriched food on postburn intestinal mucosal proliferation in rats.

METHODS

Twenty Wistar rats prepared with gastrostomy 7 days before the experiment were inflicted by 30% TBSA flame burn, and were divided into early enteral feeding (EF), L -- arginine enriched early enteral feeding group (AEF) receiving feeding from 2 PBHs and delayed feeding (DF) group, receiving feeding from 48 PBHs. The changes in intestinal mucosal DNA content and intestinal mucosal proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index (PCNALI) were determined on the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 9th postburn days (PBDs) respectively in rats.

RESULTS

There were rare intestinal mucosal PCNA positive cells on the 1st PBD in all groups. Compared with that in DF group, the intesinal mucosal PCNALI in AEF group increased obviously on 3 PBD, while that in EF group increased evidently on 6 PBD. (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

There existed intestinal mucosal injury postburn as shown by the inhibition of intestinal epithelial proliferation. Early enteral feeding with L -- arginine enriched food could not only ameliorate intestinal mucosal injury, but also enhance the proliferation of intestinal mucosal epithelium.