The Effect of Glutamine Supplementation on Ileum Histopathology of Rats with Acute and Chronic EPEC-Induced Diarrhea

BACKGROUND: Glutamine is a non-essential amino acid as the main fuel in the gastrointestinal mucosa. By its various gastrointestinal functions, glutamine is thought to increase the protection of the intestinal mucosa against local or systemic injury from diarrhea.  AIM: This study aims to determine the relationship between glutamine supplementation and ileum histopathology in rats with acute and chronic diarrhea induced by EPEC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was conducted in an experimental laboratory with a randomized posttest-only control group design. A total of 30 Rattus novergicus strain Wistar were divided into 5 groups. The treatment group was induced to have diarrhea using EPEC at a dose of 108 CFU/ml, after each group diagnosed by acute and chronic diarrhea, followed by glutamine supplementation at a dose of 810 mg/200 g for 14 days. The intestinal histopathology of each group was assessed and their levels of inflammation classified based on the Barthel-Mandja inflammatory score. RESULT: The result showed that significant differences in inflammation levels between the negative control group, acute diarrhea group, chronic diarrhea group, acute diarrhea group with glutamine, and  chronic diarrhea group with glutamine were found (p<0.05). The highest level of inflammation was found in the acute diarrhea group. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that glutamine supplementation has an effect on the ileum histopathology of rats with acute and chronic diarrhea. Keywords: Enteropathogenic E. Coli, Glutamine, gastrointestinal tract, pathology, ileum.