Nutritional efficacy and hepatic changes during intragastric, intravenous, and prehepatic feeding in rats

The nutritional efficacy and hepatic changes in rats given a total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solution consisting of 4.25% amino acids and 25% dextrose by intragastric, intravenous, or prehepatic routes were studied over a 4-day period. Rats fed Purina Chow or given intragastric TPN maintained body weight and showed no appreciable fatty change of liver. In contrast, weight loss, hepatomegaly, and a 37% increase in liver lipid content were observed in rats given intravenous TPN and a 60% increase after prehepatic TPN. Approximately half the rats given intravenous or prehepatic TPN developed fatty changes in the liver. Serum albumin concentration and hepatic protein content were not improved after prehepatic TPN. Serum SGOT and SGPT were elevated in rats given prehepatic TPN only. Prehepatic TPN may result in hepatic injury and offers no apparent benefit over conventional intravenous TPN in rats.