Effect of glucose, fructose, sorbitol and amino acid solutions employed in clinical medicine on the development of liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy.

The authors studied the effect of glucose (G), fructose (F), sorbitol (So), 4% Nutramin S Spofa (NuS) and Nutramin C Spofa (NuC) on development of liver regeneration. NuS is used clinically to improve a negative nitrogen balance, while the amino acid composition of NuC has a beneficial effect on the ornithine cycle and thus helps to normalize the NH3 level in patients with liver failure. Glucose seems to be the best substance for an optimal onset of liver regeneration. Its onset in rats given NuC was slower than in animals given NuS, but 48 h after partial hepatectomy there was no difference between NuC and NuS as regards the total DNA content and 96 h after the operation there was no difference as regards either the number of mitoses or the number of liver cells. In addition to reducing the plasma ammonia level, therefore, NuC also has a favourable effect on the development on liver regeneration.