Efficacy of a glutamine-based oral rehydration solution on the electrolyte and water absorption in a rabbit model of secretory diarrhea induced by cholera toxin

Background: Glutamine is absorbed in the intestinal tract coupled with sodium and is the principal metabolic substrate for the enterocyte. Therefore, an oral rehydration solution con taining this substance might provide an effective oral means of restoring electrolyte losses as well as speeding repair of mucosal damage. The objective of this work was to investigate the use of an oral rehydration solution based on glutamine in vivo in the perfused rabbit ileal loop model of secretory diarrhea induced by choleratoxin. Methods: Phenolsulfonphthalein (PSP, 50 mg/l) was used as a nonabsorbable marker for calculations of net water and electrolyte transport. Solutions tested included: (a) a glutamine-based oral rehydration solution with 111 mmol/l glutamine, (Gln-ORS); (b) the oral rehydration solution recommended by the World Health Organization; (c) modified Ringer's solution. Choleratoxin (1 mu g/ml) was injected into the lumen of the ileal rabbit segments for 30 minutes prior to the initiation of the perfusion. Results: Choleratoxin induced significant secretion of sodium in the control modified Ringer's solution (10.8 +/- 2.95 vs -14.05 +/- 5.95 mu Eq/g/min, n = 10; p < 0.01) and of water (0.06 +/- 0.03 vs -0.15 +/- 0.06 ml/g/min, n = 10; p < 0.01) with a maximum effect at 60 minutes after initiation of perfusion. World Health Organization oral rehydration solution was able to significantly reduce the intestinal secretion of sodium (control with cholera = -14.34 +/- 2.18 vs oral rehydration solution with cholera = -0.50 +/- 0.48 mu Eq/g/min, n = 10;p < 0.01) and water (-0.15 +/- 0.02 vs -0.012 +/- 0.005 ml/g/min, n = 10; p < 0.01). For comparison, glutamine-based oral rehydration solution had an even greater effect on sodium and water absorption (glutamine-based oral rehydration solution with choleratoxin = 10.31 +/- 1.21 mu Eq/g/min, n = 5; p < 0.01 for sodium and 0.08 +/- 0.008 ml water/g/min; n = 5; p < 0.01). Choleratoxin did not change the effect of glutamine-based oral rehydration solution on sodium and water absorption (12.90 +/- -1.09 mu Eq sodium/g/min, n = 5; and 0.11 +/- 0.01 ml water/g/min; n = 5). In addition glutamine-based oral rehydration solution also induced a greater absorption of potassium and chloride in the intestinal ileal segments treated with cholera toxin compared with World Health Organization glutamin-based oral rehydration solution. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the superior efficacy of glutamine-based oral rehydration solution in electrolyte and water absorption compared with modified Ringer's control solution or even with World Health Organization-recommended oral rehydration solution.