Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of glutamine in treatment of experimental colitis in mice. Methods Fifty BALB/C mice were randomly divided into 5 groups:normal control group, model group, 5-ASA group, glutamine group, and 5-ASA (Acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid) +glutamine group. The experimental colitis was induced with 2,4, 6-Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) enema. The disease activity index (DAI) was observed and the histopathological changes of intestinal mucosa were examined with H-E staining, the expression of TNF-a, NF-κB, IL-10 and IL-1β was detected with immunohistochemical technique. Results The DAI score of model group increased significantly. Histopathological examination revealed acute inflammation, ulceration, mononuclear cell infiltration in intestinal mucosa in model mice. The expression of TNF-a, NF-κB, IL-β was increased, the expression of IL-10 was decreased. The glutamine can relieve intestine mucosa inflammation, to a certain extent, it can treat the experimental colitis mice.The curative effect is equal to 5-ASA. The therapy effect of combination of 5-ASA and glutamine group is best, and has no statistical difference compared with normal controls. Conclusion Glutamine can treat experimental colitis in mouse which may be related to promate mucosa cells growing, keep mucosa, relieve colon tissue injury in colitis by suppressing the activity of NF-κB, decrease TNF-α、IL-1β expression. The combination treatment of glutamine and 5-ASA has a better effect than either of individual treatment alone.
