PURPOSE: An experimental study has been conducted to investigate acute ischemic changes in concentrations of glucose, piruvate, lactate and ketone bodies in rat hind leg muscle and arterial blood after intravenous injection of l-alanil-glutamine solution. METHODS: Forty-eight male Wistar rats were distributed into two groups: Group 1 (Control) and Group 2 (Experiment). Each group was divided into 4 subgroups (n=6). Thirty minutes after administration of 20% solution of L-alanil-glutamine (0,75g/Kg, group 1) or saline solution (group 2) into right jugular vein, a clamp was placed across left common iliac artery for 30 minutes. Samples from left thigh muscle and arterial blood from abdominal aorta were collected at the end of ischemic period (subgroup 0) and 5, 15 and 30 minutes later. RESULTS: Glucose concentrations were decreased (p<0.05) in experiment group muscles, compared to respective control (subgroup 15 min) and significantly increased in subgroups 15 and 30 min as compared to subgroup 0 min. There was no difference in glycemia and pyruvate concentrations when comparing experiment versus control rats. Decreased lactate concentrations might be related to L-alanyl glutamine effects. CONCLUSIONS: Increased availability of L-alanil-glutamine increases energy production via glycolysis by activation of lactate-malate cycle in ischemic muscle tissue.
Muscle; Ischemia; Reperfusion lesion; L-alanyl-glutamine; Rats
