Protective function of human growth hormone on intestinal mucosa barrier of rats after major hepatectomy

Objective:To investigate the protective effects of growth hormone(GH) on intestinal mucosa barrier in rats,and to provide the experimental gist for using recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH) after 70% hepatectomy.Methods:Ninety rats were randomized into control,NS and rhGH groups,hepatic left and right lobe of rats in NS and rhGH groups were resected in the latter two groups. Drug was injected continuosly for 6 days. On post-operative 1st,2nd,3rd,5th and 10th day,thickness of mucosa and height of villi of rat ileum were examined by the image analysis instrument and morphology of ileum was observed;proliferate cell nucleus antigen(PCNA) of ileum mucosal epithelium was determined by immunohistochemical technique. In addition,the content of plasma endotoxin was examined on post-operative 1st,2nd and 3rd day.Results:On the 1st and 2nd day of 70% hepatectomy,endotoxin evidently rose,but it was not markedly different between rhGH group and control group. Ileum mucosa distinctly shrunk and villi thinned and PCNA of ileum mucosal epithelium distinctly descended(P0.01) on 3rd,and 5th day. Above results evidently rose on the 3rd day of using rhGH(P0.01) and were as same as control group on the 5th day.Conclusion:The intestinal mucosa barrier is damaged after major hepatectomy and rhGH therapy can protect markedly the intestinal mucosa barrier and reduce endotoxemia.