Glutamine protects both transcellular and paracellular pathways of chick intestinal calcium absorption under oxidant conditions.

Glutamine (GLN) avoids the inhibition of the intestinal Ca2+ absorption caused by menadione (MEN) through oxidative stress. The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether molecules of transcellular and/or paracellular pathways of intestinal Ca2+ absorption are involved in the GLN action and underlying mechanisms. One-month old chicks were divided in four groups: 1) controls, 2) MEN treated, 3) GLN treated and 4) GLN + MEN treated. The morphology of intestinal villi, the intestinal Ca2+ absorption and the molecules involved in the transcellular and paracellular pathways were analyzed. Markers of autophagy and inflammation were also evaluated. The data demonstrated that GLN protected both transcellular and paracellular pathways. GLN avoided morphological changes in the intestine caused by MEN. GLN protected the gene expression of transporters involved in the transcellular pathway and the gene and protein expression of molecules belonging to the paracellular pathways altered by MEN. GLN increased the LC3-II protein expression and the number of acidic vesicular organelles, markers of autophagy, and blocked an increase in the NFkB protein expression in the nuclei and in the IL-6 gene expression caused by MEN. In conclusion, GLN protects both transcellular and paracellular pathways of intestinal Ca2+ absorption by increasing autophagy and blocking inflammation.