Long- and medium-chain triacylglycerols in nutritional support of liver regeneration of partially hepatectomized rats

An appropriate choice for a suitable diet during liver regeneration still r emains an enigma. To investigate the effect of isocaloric enteral feeding w ith medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCT) and long-chain triacylglycerols (LC T) supplement (MCT+LCT, 40 %: 60 % w:w) (178 kJ/kg b.w./24 h), rat liver re generation was studied 24 and 72 h after partial hepatectomy. The liver DNA synthesis 24 h after partial hepatectomy was significantly higher in the M CT+LCT-supplemented rats (30.2+/-8 x 2.10(3) dpm/mg liver DNA) compared to MCT-treated animals (18.1+/-5.7 x 10(3) dpm/mg liver DNA). Liver protein sy nthesis was non-significantly elevated both 24 and 72 h after surgery in MC T+LCT-supplemented rats (13.7+/-1.1 and 10.9+/-3.1 x 10(3) dpm/mg liver pro tein). Seventy-two hours after partial hepatectomy, the hepatocyte mitotic activity was significantly increased in MCT+LCT-supplemented group vs. LCT- or MCT-fed rats (3.3+/-0.7 vs. 1.9+/-0.7 or 1.0+/-0.6 mitoses per 1000 hep atocytes), thus exhibiting an increased proliferative potential. The result s showed a qualitative difference according to the proportion of MCT to LCT in the enteral supplements. Overfeeding with MCT decreased body weight, in creased liver weight by its fatty infiltration, increased rat mortality rat e and reduced spontaneous caloric intake. We conclude that the balanced sup plement of MCT+LCT (40 % : 60 % w:w) preserves liver regeneration, whereas overfeeding with MCT seems to be deleterious.