Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) immunoreactivity in the intestine of Alloxan-diabetic Sprague Dawley rat.

Intestinal L-cells synthesize a proglucagon molecule which is processed to form glucagons-like peptide 1(GLP-1) and glucagons-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) together with other peptides. The L-cells contain the enzyme proglucagon convertase1 (PC1) and proglucagon convertase3 (PC3). Plasma levels of GLP-1 have been reported to vary in types 1 and 2 diabetes and in experimental type 1 diabetic rats. The â-cell of the pancreatic islets contain predominantly PC2, and the predominant peptide secreted are glucagon and GLP-1; the latter is reported to stimulate the release of insulin from pancreatic â-cells, and also to stimulate the proliferation of â-cells. The antidiabetogenic potential of GLP-1 has been reported, and the analogue has been used to control blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetics. In this experiment the immunoreactivity of GLP-1 in the L-cells of the small intestine and colon of alloxan diabetic Sprague Dawley rats was investigated. Results showed that the immunoreactivity of GLP-1 was significantly reduced in the L-cells of the small intestine and the colon of alloxan diabetic rats.

Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) immunoreactivity in the intestine of Alloxan-diabetic Sprague Dawley rat.

Intestinal L-cells synthesize a proglucagon molecule which is processed to form glucagons-like peptide 1(GLP-1) and glucagons-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) together with other peptides. The L-cells contain the enzyme proglucagon convertase1 (PC1) and proglucagon convertase3 (PC3). Plasma levels of GLP-1 have been reported to vary in types 1 and 2 diabetes and in experimental type 1 diabetic rats. The â-cell of the pancreatic islets contain predominantly PC2, and the predominant peptide secreted are glucagon and GLP-1; the latter is reported to stimulate the release of insulin from pancreatic â-cells, and also to stimulate the proliferation of â-cells. The antidiabetogenic potential of GLP-1 has been reported, and the analogue has been used to control blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetics. In this experiment the immunoreactivity of GLP-1 in the L-cells of the small intestine and colon of alloxan diabetic Sprague Dawley rats was investigated. Results showed that the immunoreactivity of GLP-1 was significantly reduced in the L-cells of the small intestine and the colon of alloxan diabetic rats.

Effect of alloxan diabetes, on glicentin-secreting L-cells in the small intestine of Sprague Dawley rats,

The L-cells of the small intestine synthesize a proglucagon molecule which is processed to form glicentin, oxyntomodulin, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucagons-like peptide 2 (GLP-2). Glicentin and oxyntomodulin inhibit gastric secretion, and delay tansit time through the stomach. Serum concentrations of GLP-1 and GLP-2 have been reported to vary in types 1 and 2 diabetes and in streptozocin induced diabetic rats. It was initially thought that these variations were due to the activity of intestinal L- cells, but it was later found that this was from pancreatic alpha cells. Very little work had been done on the effect of diabetes on glicentin producing cells of the gut. In this experiment the effects of alloxan diabetes on glicentin producing L-cells of the intestines was investigated using immunohistochemical techniques. Results showed that the immunoreactivity of glicentin was noticeablly reduced in the L-cells of the small intestine of alloxan-diabetic rats.

Effect of alloxan diabetes, on glicentin-secreting L-cells in the small intestine of Sprague Dawley rats,

The L-cells of the small intestine synthesize a proglucagon molecule which is processed to form glicentin, oxyntomodulin, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucagons-like peptide 2 (GLP-2). Glicentin and oxyntomodulin inhibit gastric secretion, and delay tansit time through the stomach. Serum concentrations of GLP-1 and GLP-2 have been reported to vary in types 1 and 2 diabetes and in streptozocin induced diabetic rats. It was initially thought that these variations were due to the activity of intestinal L- cells, but it was later found that this was from pancreatic alpha cells. Very little work had been done on the effect of diabetes on glicentin producing cells of the gut. In this experiment the effects of alloxan diabetes on glicentin producing L-cells of the intestines was investigated using immunohistochemical techniques. Results showed that the immunoreactivity of glicentin was noticeablly reduced in the L-cells of the small intestine of alloxan-diabetic rats.

Necrotising enterocolitis: A management protocol for developing countries

28 cases of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) comprising 11 term and 17 preterm patients were diagnosed between January 1990 and December 1995 at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI). Treatment was in accordance with a management protocol which emphasised aggressive screening of potential cases, early laparotomy for bowel perforation and primary anastomosis after small bowel resection. There were three deaths among the 13 cases of bowel perforation. Centres in developing countries can achieve rates of survival comparable to those in the developed world in babies with NEC weighing over 1000 grams by adopting the UHWI management protocol.(AU)

Small bowel overgrowth in malnourished children as measured by the breadth hydrogen test - abstract

Overgrowth of the small intestine with bacteria has been implicated in the chronic diarrhoea associated with severe malnutrition. The hydrogen breath test has been introduced as a simple non-invasive technique to assess bacterial fermentation in the bowel. An increase in breath hydrogen in excess of 20 ppm within 60 minutes of the oral presentation of substrate is taken as evidence of small bowel overgrowth (SBO). The hydrogen breath test was used in 30 children admitted with severe protein energy malnutrition. Of the 19 children tested on admission and at intervals during recovery, 5 were positive on admission and a further 3 became positive at varying times after admission. Of these 8 with positive results, 5 were treated with metronidazole and all were negative on subsequent testing. Of the 3 children who were not treated one improved, but 2 had persistently positive breath hydrogen. Eleven (11) children had breath hydrogen measured at some time during recovery. In 6 the test was positive; all received metronidazole and became negative. In 2 children who had received metronidazole and were negative, the test became positive at a later date. Three children had a positive test with lactose specifically, one was treated with metronidazole and became negative. Therefore, of 30 children studied, 14 had a positive test at some time, which became negative in the 11 treated with metronidazole. We conclude that small bowel overgrowth as measured by the breath hydrogen test is a frequent accompaniment of severe malnutrition and responds to treatment with metronidazole (AU)

An unusual mixed bezoar in a child

A case report is presented of a mixed bezoar, composed of hair and carpet, occurring in a Negro toddler. The tail of the bezoar had progressed into the small bowel, giving rise to necrosis, perforation and peritonitis before removal of the mass and bowel resection led to a favourable outcome. The unusual features of the case are stressed (AU)

In vivo studies of amino acid, water and electrolyte transport in the small intestine of normal and magnesium depleted rats

Net amino acid, water and electrolyte transport from the small intestine in vivo was studied in normal and magnesium depleted rats, by a single pass perfusion technique. The net absorption of the amino acids, alanine and lysine increased with increasing concentration of the amino acid in the perfusion solution, within the concentration range studied (10 and 50mM). In all cases alanine was absorbed faster than lysine. Dietary magnesium depletion, lasting for a period of twenty eight days did not affect the net rate of transport of these two amino acids in any of the regions of the small intestine which were studied. In general, the presence of amino acids increased the absorption of water by comparison with that from saline. However, lysine at a concentration of 50mM tended to inhibit water absorption by comparison with that observed in the presence of alanine at 50mM. Magnesium depletion did not in general affect net transport rates of water in the presence and absence of amino acids. However, when alanine at a concentration of 50mM was perfused, water absorption was inhibited in the magnesium depleted rats. The presence of amino acids did not affect the transport of sodium in any of the regions of the small intestine. However, magnesium depletion did severely inhibit sodium transport, especially in the presence of alanine at a concentration of 50mM in all three regions of the small intestine. Amino acids stimulated the absorption of chloride by all segments of the small intestine by comparison with that from saline alone. Magnesium depletion however, significantly reduced chloride ion absorption by all three segments. Good correlations were found between the transport rates of sodium and chloride, sodium and water, and total solute and water in all three regions of the small intestine (AU)

The human rumen

The cow is a ruminant, and cow's milk has evolved to promote bacterial growth in the upper small bowel; whereas human milk has evolved to discourage bacterial growth. Examinations of the constituents of the two milks shows that their differences can be accounted for in terms of this difference in function. Children who are fed a calf's diet tend to develop a rumen. This may lead to chronic diarrhoea and malnutrition and may be a factor in diarrhoea ascribed to cow's-milk-protein allergy and lactose intolerance (Summary)

Psuedo-obstruction and a sprue-like syndrome from stronglyloidiasis

Symptomatic diseases from Strongyloides stercoralis has been recognized for the first time in Trinidad. Five cases are reported, all showing clinical features suggestive of a sprue-like syndrome. Subtotal jejunal villous atrophy was seen in one case and partial villous atrophy in two. Three patients had laparotomies bacause of suspected partial intestinal obstruction. A sprue-like syndrome in certain Caribbean immigrants should arouse a suspicion of S. stercoralis (Summary)

Ammonia production by the small intestine of the rat

Slices of duodenum and jejunum produce ammonia from glutamine in vitro. Ammoniagenesis does not increase in response to acidosis or potassium deficiency, two conditions known to cause enhanced ammoniagenesis in the kidney. Gut contains glutamine 1 as well as ç-glutamyl transpeptidase. These enzymes do not show any increase during starvation (SUMMARY)

Sugar absorption and intestinal motility in children when malnourished and after treatment

The ability of malnourished children to absorb lactose, sucrose and glucose was tested by perfusing the jejunum. Intestinal motility was measured simultaneously in a perfused segment by a dye dilution technique. These tests were repeated on the same children after 6-16 weeks of treatment. There was a significant correlation between the rate of hydrolysis of disaccharide perfusing the jejunum and the level of disaccharidase activity within the jejunal mucosa. All ten malnourished children had dimished glucose absorption, eight had reduced lactose and six had impaired sucrose hydrolysis and absorption. Children with the most severe mucosal damage had the lowest rate of sugar absorption. The malabsorption of disaccharide was related to the impairment of hydrolysis and not to the malabsorption of the monosaccharide products. Primary hypermotility of the intestine was not a feature of the malnourished group. Water absorption from all infusions occurred only in the treated group. Water entry into the intestinal lumen in the malnourished group was greatest with the most poorly absorbed sugars. The mean transit time of fluid passing down the intestine was inversely correlated with the sugar remaining unabsorbed within the lumen. Treating the malnourished child in hospital produced an increase in glucose, lactose and sucrose absorption. The generalized nature of the malabsorption and the reversibility of the defects suggests that lactose intolerance in these children is related to the nutritional state and not to a genetic predisposition to lactase deficiency. (Summary)

Complications of acquired diverticulosis of the small intestine

Two cases of complications of acquired diverticulosis of the small intestine, successfully treated surgically, are reported. Some of the literature regarding complications of this condition is reviewed. (Summary)