Objective To study effects of enteral immunonutrition and econutrition on intestinal mucosa barrier function in wounded rats. Methods Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, with ten rats in each group 〔ie.control group, enteral nutrition (EN) group, enteral immunonutrition (EIN) group and enteral econutrition (EEN) group〕. After gastrostomy, rats in each group were treated with the isocaloric and isonitrogenous nutritional formulas for 7 days, respectively. The morphology of ileum membrane was studied, and the quantities of IgA+, CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells (each HP) of ileum membrane were determined. Results The villus height, crypt depth, mucosal thickness (except EN group) and villus surface area of ileum were increased in EN, EIN and EEN group compared with control group (P＜0.05), but there was no significant difference among the former three groups (Pgt;0.05). The numbers of IgA+, CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells were increased in EN, EIN and EEN group compared with control group (P＜0.05), and those numbers in EN group were lower than those in EIN and EEN group (P＜0.05). Conclusion EIN and EEN may improve intestine mechanical barrier function and promote restoration of small intestine mucous membrane barrier function in rats. EIN and EEN also improve intestine immune barrier function and strengthen its immune function.
