Effects of Right Hemicolectomy on Nitrogen Balance in the Rat

Abstract

Rats with right hemicolectomy were divided into two groups. One group was free-fed (RHFF), the other group pair-fed (RHPF) and both were compared with a group of control animals. The nitrogen balance (NB) was studied for 5 days at 2 and 14 weeks after surgery. The two groups of rats with right hemicolectomy excreted significantly more fecal nitrogen than the control group (p < 0.01) during the two periods of study. At 2 weeks the RHFF group increased N intake so that their NB was similar to that of the control group. In the same period the nitrogen lost in urine and the NB were reduced in the RHPF rats (p < 0.01). At 14 weeks the results were similar to those for 2 weeks although the increase in food intake for RHFF and the decrease in NB for RHPF were not statistically significant. The rats with right hemicolectomy showed a decreased gain in body weight. This decrease was more pronounced in the RHPF group. The nitrogen content of the carcass and liver was significantly reduced in the RHPF group 4 months after surgery. It is concluded that the rats with right hemicolectomy were characterized by an increment in the nitrogen lost in feces, and when they were only allowed the same intake of food as the control group, the animals showed marked abnormalities in growth and in the nitrogen content of the organism.

Estudo dos efeitos das ressecções colônicas parciais em ratos

“…Nos grupos I e II, o peso dos animais no pós-operatório nunca atingiu o peso do pré-operatório, fato concordante com a literatura (7) (Figura 1).…”

“…É conhecido também que em animais submetidos a hemicolectomia direita, ocorre aumento significativo das perdas de nitrogênio nas fezes, diminuição do ganho de peso corporal e do conteúdo de nitrogênio orgânico (7) , e que o cólon distal é capaz de adaptar-se, aumentando a absorção de sódio e água, três semanas após a operação (23) .…”

Effects of Right Hemicolectomy on Fecal Nitrogen Excretion in Rats

“…The finding that rats with right hemicolec tomy (RH) were characterized by an incre ment in the nitrogen lost in feces [4] suggests that the large bowel plays a role in the normal absorption of nitrogen.…”