Oxidative state in intestine and liver after partial hepatectomy in rats. Effect of bombesin and neurotensin.

Objectives: Extended liver resection is a situation with major implication of the gut-liver axis. In the present study, we aimed to investigate intestinal and liver oxidative stress after partial hepatectomy and explore the influence of exogenous administration of gut regulatory peptides bombesin (BBS) and neurotensin (NT).

Design And Methods: Ninety male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: control, sham operated, partially hepatectomized (70%), and partially hepatectomized treated with either BBS or NT. Forty-eight hours after surgery, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, reduced and oxidized glutathione were measured on intestinal and liver homogenates. Endotoxin levels were determined in portal and aortic blood.

Results: In hepatectomized rats, all parameters of oxidative stress in remnant liver were decreased. In the intestine, oxidative protein damage was increased, while lipid peroxidation and glutathione oxidation were reduced. BBS and NT reduced protein and glutathione oxidation in both tissues and prevented lipid peroxidation in the intestine. Furthermore, portal and aortic endotoxemia were decreased in peptides-treated rats.

Conclusions: After partial hepatectomy, liver regeneration takes place under low oxidative stress, while increased oxidative damage to proteins occurs in the intestine. Gut regulatory peptides BBS and NT exert an antioxidant effect in both organs and prevent endotoxemia.