The effects of melatonin on the intestinal adaptation in short bowel syndrome

SUMMARYIn this study we evaluated the effects of melatonin on the intestinal adaptation in therats with short bowel syndrome (SBS).The rats were randomly allocated into four groups (n=8) as; sham (S), control(SBS),SBS-E and SBS-M. In the sham group the bowel was transected and re-anastomosis wasperformed without bowel resection at the point approximately 15 cm proximal to the ileocecalvalve. In the other groups, approximately 75% of the intestine (from 5 cm distal to the Treitzto 15 cm proximal to the ileocecal valve) was resected in order to create short gut. In SBS-Egroup 2 ml of 5% ethanol and in SBS-M group 300µg/kg/day melatonin in a 2ml solutionwere administer intraperitoneally for two weeks. The rats were weighted in every three dayand the values were recorded. At the end of the second week the rats were sacrificed and aftermeasuring the remaining small intestinal length, the small intestine was harvested. Afterweighing the intestine, intestinal biopsy was taken for histopathological evaluation. Thenmucosa was removed, weighed, kept in -80oC for biochemical evaluation.The least body weight loss in rats was seen in the SBS-M group than the other SBSgroups. The bowel and mucosal weight, small intestinal length and DNA/protein ration werefound significantly higher SBS-M group than the other SBS groups. The highest villus height,the deepest crypt depth and most increased mitotic activity were observed in the jejunum ofSBS-M group. No difference was found between the groups in terms of apoptotic activity.In conclusion, our date showed the favorable effect of melatonin on intestinaladaptation, especially jejunal adaptation, in short gut.