PRESERVATION OF INTESTINE PROTEIN BY PEPTIDE YY DURING TOTAL PARENTERAL-NUTRITION

Maintaining rats on TPN for 7 days was associated with a 50% reduction in gut mass and protein content. Co-infusing PW with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) resulted in significant savings in jejunal wet mass a nd elevated protein content of jejunum, ileum and colon as compared wi th rats maintained on TPN alone. No significant effects of PYY on plas ma amino acid profile were noted. Although minor alterations in mucosa l polyamines were observed in rats maintained on TPN, co-infusion of P YY had no significant effect on gut polyamine concentrations. These re sults suggest that PW has trophic effects upon the gut during otherwis e catabolic conditions. Therefore, co-infusion of PYY with TPN may sug gest methods whereby loss of intestinal mucosa and atrophy-associated complications of TPN may be modulated.