l-Glutamine supplementation promotes an improved energetic balance in Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats.
We evaluated the effects of supplementation with oral l-glutamine in Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats. A total of 32 male Wistar rats aged 54 days were randomly divided into four groups: rats without Walker-256 tumor, that is, control rats (C group); control rats supplemented with l-glutamine (CG group); Walker-256 tumor rats without l-glutamine supplementation (WT group); and WT rats supplemented with l-glutamine (WTG group). l-Glutamine was incorporated into standard food at a proportion of 2 g/100 g (2%). After 10 days of the experimental period, the jejunum and duodenum were removed and processed. Protein expression levels of key enzymes of gluconeogenesis, that is, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase, were analyzed by western blot and immunohistochemical techniques. In addition, plasma corticosterone, glucose, insulin, and urea levels were evaluated. The WTG group showed significantly increased plasma glucose and insulin levels ( p < 0.05); however, plasma corticosterone and urea remained unchanged. Moreover, the WTG group showed increased immunoreactive staining for jejunal phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and increased expression of duodenal glucose-6-phosphatase. Furthermore, the WTG group presented with less intense cancer cachexia and slower tumor growth. These results could be attributed, at least partly, to increased intestinal gluconeogenesis and insulinemia, and better glycemia maintenance during fasting in Walker-256 tumor rats on a diet supplemented with l-glutamine.
['Martins|Heber Amilcar|HA|', 'Bazotte|Roberto Barbosa|RB|', 'Vicentini|Geraldo Emilio|GE|', 'Lima|Mariana Machado|MM|', 'Guarnier|Flavia Alessandra|FA|', 'Hermes-Uliana|Catchia|C|', 'Frez|Flavia Cristina Vieira|FC|', 'Bossolani|Gleison Daion Piovezana|GD|', 'Fracaro|Luciane|L|', 'Fávaro|Larissa Dos Santos|LD|', 'Manzano|Mariana Inocêncio|MI|', 'Zanoni|Jacqueline Nelisis|JN|']
D000818:Animals D001786:Blood Glucose D002100:Cachexia D002279:Carcinoma 256, Walker D003345:Corticosterone D019587:Dietary Supplements D004386:Duodenum D005943:Gluconeogenesis D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase D005973:Glutamine D007328:Insulin D007583:Jejunum D008297:Male D023421:Models, Animal D019764:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (ATP) D051381:Rats D017208:Rats, Wistar D014508:Urea
phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase glucose-6-phosphatase intestinal gluconeogenesis insulinemia glycemia Antitumor effect