Preservation of intestine protein by peptide YY during total parenteral nutrition.

Maintaining rats on TPN for 7 days was associated with a 50% reduction in gut mass and protein content. Co-infusing PYY with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) resulted in significant savings in jejunal wet mass and elevated protein content of jejunum, ileum and colon as compared with rats maintained on TPN alone. No significant effects of PYY on plasma amino acid profile were noted. Although minor alterations in mucosal polyamines were observed in rats maintained on TPN, co-infusion of PYY had no significant effect on gut polyamine concentrations. These results suggest that PYY has trophic effects upon the gut during otherwise catabolic conditions. Therefore, co-infusion of PYY with TPN may suggest methods whereby loss of intestinal mucosa and atrophy-associated complications of TPN may be modulated.