Glutamine-enriched enteral diet increases splanchnic blood flow in the rat

Blood flow measurements in male Fischer rats fed with glutamine (Gln)-enriched diet for 14 days demonstrate that the Gln-enriched diet increases blood flow in small intestine, pancreas, colon and stomach. Plasma levels of the vasodilating hormone glucagon, urinary nitrate excretion and systemic hemodynamic parameters of the Gln-diet fed and control rats are similar. Thus, nitric oxide generation or pancreatic glucagon do not mediate the increase in splanchnic blood flow.