Glutathione and tissue amino acid responses to light-exposed parenteral nutrients

Effects of infusion of light-exposed (+L) or light-protected (-L) total parenteral nutrition solutions were investigated in rats. The parenteral infusions were carried out for 7 days through jugular cannulas in freely moving rats in metabolic cages. Plasma tyrosine and citrulline, hepatic methionine, valine, isoleucine, leucine and tyrosine, and biliary cystathionine were significantly greater in the -L than +L rats, whereas biliary arginine was significantly lower in the -L compared to +L rats. Bile flow, biliary inorganic phosphate and glucose were significantly lower, whereas biliary total glutathione (GSH+GSSG) was significantly greater in the -L compared to +L animals. These data suggest adverse effects on hepatobiliary function due to light exposure of parenteral nutrients. The endogenous markers used suggest that tight junction permeability, bile acid-independent flow, glutathione and amino acid homeostasis are altered by light exposure and that these changes can be minimized by light protection. The mechanisms involved in the induction of these changes need to be elucidated. The role of light exposure of parenteral nutrients during routine clinical use in the induction of hepatic dysfunction, a common metabolic complication of parenteral nutrition, needs to be considered.