Effects of growth hormone on sennn albumin levels and intestinal mucosal morphology in rats with intracerebral hemonrrhage

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effects of recombinant human growth hormone （rhGH） on serum albumin levels and intestinal mucosal morphology in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage. Methods A rat model of intracerebral hemorrhage was induced by autologous blood injection. Fifty-six SD rats were divided into sham-operation group （n = 8）, rhGH group （n =24; intraperitoneal injection of rhGH, 1 U/kg, once a day）, and saline control group （n =24; intraperitoneal injection of equivalent normal saline, once a day）. The rhGH and saline control groups were redivided into 1 -, 7- and 14-day groups （n = 8 in each group） after the procedure. The serum albumin concentration was detected at different time points in all groups. The changes of intestinal mucosal morphology were observed with Hematoxylin and Eosin （HE） staining and image analysis. Results The serum albumin levels at all time points of intracerebral hemorrhage in the saline control group were all significantly lower than those in the shamoperation group （all P 〈 0.01 ）; The serum albumin level was increased gradually with the treatment process in the rhGH group, however, it was only significantly higher than the saline control group at day 14 （39.93 ± 1.98 g/L vs. 37.93 ± 1.57 g/L） （P 〈0.01）. There were no significant differences between the rhGH group and the saline group in intestinal villus height and mucosal thickness at day 1 and 7 after intracerebral hemorrhage, however they were increased significantly at day 14 （P 〈0.01）. The area of intestinal villi was reduced progressively at day 1, 7 and 14 after intracerebral hemorrhage, and with the treatment process the rhGH group was increased more progressively than the saline control group （P 〈 0.01 ）. The depth of intestinal glands in the rhGH group was increased significantly than that in the saline control group （P 〈0.01）, but there was no significant difference at day 14; the density of glands in the rhGH group was significantly increased than that in the saline group at day 1 after intracerebral hemorrhage （P 〈 0.01 ）, and it was not increased significantly at day 7, however, it was not increased but decreased slightly at day 14. Conclusions The serum albumin level in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage was decreased significantly than that in the sham-operation group, and intracerebral hemorrhage could cause intestinal mucosal injury, rhGH increased the serum albumin level in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage. It might reduce intestinal mucosal injury to different degrees whether it was in the early or late intracerebrai hemorrhage, and the late improvement was more significant. The improvement degree of rhGH on intestinal mucosal injury was positively correlated with the increased degrees of the serum albumin level. Key words: growth hormone; brain hemorrhage; serum albumin; intestinal mucosa; rats