Endotoxin-mediated hepatic lipid accumulation during parenteral nutrition in rats.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of endotoxemia on hepatic lipid content during parenteral nutrition (PN) in rats.

METHODS

Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats (185-230 gm) were randomized to receive PN (n=9) or PN plus a continuous infusion of E. coli 026:B6 lipopolysaccharide (LPS; n= 11). All animals received isocaloric (170 kcal/kg/day), isonitrogenous (1.1 g N/kg/day), glucose-based PN for the next 78 hours. After 30 hours of adaptation to TPN, the animals were randomized to receive PN or PN plus LPS at 6 mg/kg/day for the remaining 48 hours of study. The animals were euthanized and the livers were harvested.

RESULTS

Liver weight increased significantly (by 60%) from 7.5+/-0.6 g to 12.1+/-2.4 g (p < or = 0.01) in the animals who received PN versus LPS, respectively. The proportion of liver water remained the same for PN and LPS groups (72.9+/-3.2% versus 72.3+/-3.8%, respectively, p = N.S.). However, liver fat increased disproportionately (by about 130%) from 0.20+/-0.05 g to 0.46+/-0.20 g (p < or = 0.01) total fat weight or from 9.6+/-1.8% to 13.6+/-4.1% (p < or = 0.02) lipid content (g/g) of the dry liver weight for the PN and LPS groups, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Endotoxin, when given concomitantly with parenteral nutrition, increases hepatic lipid accumulation and thus augments the development of parenteral nutrition-associated fatty liver in rats.