STUDY ON OPTIMAL FAT-CONTENT IN TOTAL PARENTERAL-NUTRITION IN PARTIALLY HEPATECTOMIZED RATS

In order to investigate the optimal fat content for total parenteral n utrition (TPN) solutions, male Wistar rats were subjected to 70% hepat ectomy and then placed, for five days, on one of five TPN regimens in which fat represented 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%, respectively, of the total calorie content. As serum triglyceride levels in the fat-treated groups were lower than those in the non-treated normal rats, it was c oncluded that the administered fat was sufficiently hydrolyzed. The gr eater the fat content, the higher the regeneration rate of the remnant liver. Significant differences were found between the 0%-fat group an d 20%-plus fat groups. Hepatic triglyceride level was significantly lo wer in the 20%-fat group. Hepatic protein level was significantly elev ated in all fat-treated groups. Serum phospholipids and total choleste rol due to the lecithin contained in fat emulsion were significantly e levated in the 30 and 40%-fat groups, indicating that fat content of 3 0 and 40% was excessive. The results suggest that TPN containing fat i s superior to fat-free TPN for liver regeneration after partial hepate ctomy, and that optimal fat content is estimated to be about 20% of to tal calorie content in the case of this fat emulsion.