Oral administration of l-citrulline alters the vascular delivery of substances to rat skeletal muscles.

Vascular endothelial function deteriorates with age and disease, and the production of vasodilator factors like nitric oxide (NO) decreases. The free amino acid l-citrulline increases vasodilation and blood flow through increased NO production. We examined the effects of oral l-citrulline administration on vascular delivery of substances to skeletal muscles.

Protein Supplementation Enhances the Effects of Intermittent Loading on Skeletal Muscles by Activating the mTORC1 Signaling Pathway in a Rat Model of Disuse Atrophy.

Inactivity leads to skeletal muscle atrophy, whereas intermittent loading (IL) during hind limb unloading (HU) attenuates muscle atrophy. However, the combined effects of IL and protein supplementation on disuse muscle atrophy are unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of IL and a high-protein oral nutritional supplement (HP) during HU on skeletal muscle mass and protein synthesis/breakdown.

Undigested low-methoxy pectin prevents diarrhea and induces colonic contraction during liquid-diet feeding in rats.

Objectives: Dietary fibers, such as pectins, are blended in liquid diets (LDs) to prevent diarrhea; however, which type of pectin is more effective, along with its mechanism of action, remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the gelling characteristics, fermentability, fecal properties, and motility of the colon during the administration of LDs blended with pectins.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered LDs containing high-methoxy pectin (HM), low-methoxy amidated pectin (LMA), low-methoxy pectin (LM), and very low-methoxy amidated pectin (VLMA) ad libitum.

Fecal imaging demonstrates that low-methoxyl pectin supplementation normalizes gastro-intestinal transit in mice given a liquid diet.

This study has the following aims: (1) to confirm a methodology for a fecal indocyanine green (ICG) imaging test for measuring gastro-intestinal transit time (GITT); and (2) to compare GITT in mice given a liquid diet in which viscosity increases under acidic conditions to that in mice given stable liquid diets with comparable viscosity or regular chow. To address Aim 1, mice received ICG orally along with intraperitoneal injection of atropine in Study 1, and mice were given ICG orally with concurrent carmine red for Study 2. Fluorescence imaging of feces collected for 8 h thereafter was used to detect the first feces with fluorescence and thereby determine GITT.

Enteral feeding with low-methoxyl pectin accelerates colonic anastomosis healing in rats.

Objective: Enteral feeding with pectin has proven beneficial for anastomosis healing in rats. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of low-methoxyl pectin (LMP) or high-methoxyl pectin (HMP), on colonic anastomosis healing in rats.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (age 7 wk) were fed liquid diets containing LMP, HMP, or no pectin (pectin-free [PF]) for 14 d (n = 10/group).

Efficacy of oral supplemental hydration for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy in rats.

Purpose: To compare oral rehydration solution (ORS) with saline infusion for preventing contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in a rat model.

Materials And Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (310-360 g) received intravenous indomethacin (10 mg/kg), N -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (10 mg/kg), and iohexol (10 mL/kg) to induce acute contrast-induced renal injury (CIN group); control rats received saline only. For hydration, rats received either continuous infusion (20 mL/kg/h) of saline or three oral doses (20 mL/kg each) of ORS.

Detecting Enteral Nutrition Residues and Microorganism Proliferation in Feeding Tubes via Real-Time Imaging.

Background: Enteral nutrition (EN) residues that persist in feeding tubes provide substrates for microorganisms to proliferate and occlude the tubes. Visible EN residues in tubes are easily identified, but smaller residues can persist. We developed a new imaging technique to visualize EN residues and proliferation of microorganisms in feeding tubes.

Fluorescence imaging in vivo visualizes delayed gastric emptying of liquid enteral nutrition containing pectin.

Background: Semi-solidification by gelation or increased viscosity could slow the influx of liquid enteral nutrition (EN) into the small intestine. A liquid EN formula containing pectin that gels under acidic conditions such as those found in the stomach has been developed. A new near-infrared fluorescent imaging reagent was used to non-invasively acquire real time images of gastric emptying in a murine model in vivo.