NONPROTEIN ENERGY OVERLOADING INDUCES BACTERIAL TRANSLOCATION DURING TOTAL PARENTERAL-NUTRITION IN NEWBORN RABBITS

The effect of energy intake provided by total parenteral nutrition (TP N) on the incidence of bacterial translocation and the relationship be tween TPN-induced cholestasis and bacterial translocation were investi gated in newborn animals. Forty-six Japanese white newborn rabbits wer e divided into three groups: TPN-H group thigh energy TPN; 280 kcal.kg (-1).d(-1)), TPN-L group (low energy TPN; 180 kcal.kg(-1).d(-1)), and a control group (breast fed). On day 8, they were all killed for inves tigation of the presence of bacterial translocation, for blood chemist ry analysis, and for histological examination of the ileum. The incide nce of translocation to any of mesenteric lymph nodes and liver and sp leen was significantly higher in the TPN-H group (67%) than in both th e TPN-L group (13%) and the control group (10%) (P < 0.01). No differe nce was seen in ileum morphology between the two TPN groups. Although the mean bilirubin level of the TPN-K group tended to be higher than t he TPN-L group, whether or not bacterial translocation occurred was no t found to be closely related to the degree of TPN-associated cholesta sis. In conclusion, parenteral nonprotein energy overloading increased the incidence of bacterial translocation in the newborn rabbit. Howev er, bacterial translocation did not appear to be associated with the d evelopment of TPN-associated cholestasis. (C) Elsevier Science Inc. 19 98.