Objective      To investigate the effect of glutamine (Gln) on the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)

intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in intestinal mucosa after orthotopic liver transplan

tation (OLT) in rats.       Methods      Seventy healthy male Wistar rats were divided randomly into three groups including a normal control group (control group

n=10)

an orthotopic liver transplantation group (OLT group

n=30) and an early enteral nutrition group (EEN group

n=30). Only hepatoduodenal ligament dissection was performed in the control group

and OLT was performed by modified two-cuff method in the OLT group and EEN group. For the EEN group

the recipients were supplied with Nutrison Fiber 125 mL/（kg·d) plus Gln 0.3 g/（kg·d) for 3 d by gastric perfusion before surgery

and Nutrison Fiber plus Gln was administered again until the animal was killed at 3 h after OLT. For the OLT group and control group

the same volume of the Nutrison Fiber was supplied by gastric perfusion at the same time. The expression of NF-κB and ICAM-1 in the ileal mucosa were determined by immunohisto chemistry

the mRNA level of TNF-α in the ileal mucosa was detected with fluorescence quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR)

and the ultrastructural changes of the ileal mucosa were observed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at 12 h after hepatoduodenal ligament dissection in the control group and at 12

24 and 72 h after OLT in the OLT group and EEN group.       Results      Compared with the control group

the levels of NF-κB

ICAM-1 and TNF-α mRNA significantly increased and the mucosal lesion significantly aggravated in the OLT group and EEN group at 12

24 and 72 h after OLT (P0.01). Compared with the OLT group

the levels of NF-κB

ICAM-1 and TNF-α mRNA were significantly decreased and the mucosal lesion was significantly relieved in the EEN group at 12

24 and 72 h after OLT (

P

0.01).       Conclusion       OLT can activate NF-κB in intestinal mucosa

and up-regulate the expression of ICAM-1 and TNF-α to induce the injury of intestinal mucosal barrier. Gln can protect the intestinal mucosal barrier through suppressing the activation of NF-κB and reducing the expression of ICAM-1 and TNF-α after

OLT.