The protective effect of different enteral nutrition combined with growth hormone on intestinal mucosal damage of scalded rats

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of standard enteral nutrition (EN) and enteral immunonutrition (EIN) combined with recombinant human growth hormone rhGH on intestinal mucosa damage in scalded rats.MethodsRats subjected to 30% total body surface area (TBSA III°), and they were divided randomly into five groups referred to as EN, EIN, EN + rhGH, EIN + rhGH and control groups. After injury on days 1, 4, 7 and 10, venous blood and intestinal mucus were collected to monitor the level of serum endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and the concentration of intestinal mucus s-IgA. The number of IgA plasma cells in intestinal tissue and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in intestinal mucosa were detected using the method of immunohistochemistry.ResultsAfter injury on days 4, 7 and 10, PCNA value of the intestinal mucosa, the number of IgA plasma cells in intestinal lamina and the concentration of intestinal mucus s-IgA in EIN and EN + rhGH groups are significantly increased compared with those in EN group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), but serum endotoxin and TNF-α levels are reduced than those in EN group. After injury on days 4, 7 and 10, PCNA values, propria IgA plasma cell number and s-IgA concentration in EIN + rhGH group have no significant difference compared with those in EIN group (P > 0.05), while the serum endotoxin and TNF-α levels are lower than those in EIN group.ConclusionsEN or EIN combined with rhGH has the additional effect on treatment to reduce intestinal mucosa damage of scalded rats and strengthen the protection of intestinal mucosa damage.