Abstract:Objectives To investigate the effect and mechanism of intestinal inflammatory damage caused by total parenteral nutrition (TPN).Methods Eighteen male 6- to 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley young rats were randomly divided into three groups of six each: the control group, and the TPN group. The right jugular vein was catheterized to provide TPN to rats in the TPN group, who were also placed in abrosia and given water. Rats in the control group were catheterized through the right jugular vein and continuously infused with normal saline, while rats in the normal group were not catheterized. Rats in normal group and control group were fed standard rat food and water, and rats were sacrificed after 14 days to obtain intestinal tissue. The pathological changes in the intestinal tissues of rats were observed using HE staining, the apoptosis of small intestinal epithelial cells was observed using TUNEL staining, the mRNA and protein expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, Occludin, ZO-1 were detected in the intestinal tissues of each group using qRT-PCR and Western blotting, and the expression of Occludin and ZO-1 in the intestinal tissues of rats in each group, and both Occludin and ZO-1 expression in the intestinal tissues of each group of young rats was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results Rats in the TPN group suffered varied degrees of damage to their intestinal tissues. When compared to the normal group and the control group, the TPN group's intestinal epithelial cells had a significantly higher rate of apoptosis (P < 0.05), higher levels of TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA and protein expression (P < 0.05), and lower levels of IL-10, Occludin, and ZO-1 mRNA and protein expression (P < 0.05). The expression of Occludin and ZO-1 dramatically decreased, according to the immunohistochemistry findings (P < 0.05).Conclusion TPN for more than two weeks can cause rats to have compromised intestinal function, elevated pro-inflammatory factors, and compromised intestinal mechanical barrier function; therefore, it is crucial to restore enteral nutrition as much as possible to minimize intestinal problems.