Sequential changes in blood concentrations of fuels in relation to arterial blood ketone body ratio after 70% hepatectomy in rabbits.

The changes in arterial blood levels of glucose, free fatty acids, ketone bodies, and amino acids were investigated after 70% hepatectomy in rabbits in relation to the changes in adenylate energy charge of the remnant liver and ketone body ratio of arterial blood. Hepatic energy charge decreased to 0.767 +/- 0.008 within 24 h (p less than 0.001), and arterial blood ketone body ratio decreased to 0.415 +/- 0.041 within 12 h (p less than 0.001). Plasma free fatty acid concentrations increased to about twice the original values within 12 h (p less than 0.01), total amino acid concentrations also doubled within 24 h (p less than 0.01), and blood glucose levels decreased to below 100 mg/dl at 12 and 24 h (p less than 0.05). Afterward, at 96 h postoperatively (p.o.), blood ketone body ratio and energy charge levels were restored to near normal levels with the normalization of blood glucose, plasma free fatty acids, and plasma amino acids. These findings suggest that the decreased energy charge of the remnant liver concomitant with a fall in blood ketone body ratio may be the basis of the sequential changes in the blood concentration of fuels after massive hepatectomy.