title: A comparative study of the effects of insulin/glucagon infusions, parenteral amino acids and high dose corticosteroids on survival in a rabbit model of acute fulminant hepatitis.
abstract: Acute fulminant hepatitis was induced in 55 healthy adult male rabbits with the potent hepatotoxin galactosamine hydrochloride (3.75 mmoles per kg i.v.). Control rabbits (n = 27) were divided into three groups: Group I (n = 10) underwent sham surgery for placement of an indwelling central venous catheter; Group II (n = 9) received 5% dextrose and water via an indwelling central venous catheter, and Group III (n = 8) received daily intramuscular injections of 0.9% sodium chloride. Treated rabbits (n = 28) also consisted of three groups: Group IV (n = 9) received 12-hr intravenous infusions of insulin (0.029 units per kg per hr) and glucagon (2.86 micrograms per kg per hr) daily; Group V (n = 10) received a continuous infusion of parenteral amino acids (Travasol), and Group VI (n = 9) received daily intramuscular methylprednisolone (0.69 mg per kg). In each case, treatment was initiated 16 hr following galactosamine injection. Serum aminotransferase activity was determined on Days 0, 1, 4 and 10 of the 10-day study. Liver histology was obtained immediately after death and graded under code on a scale of 1 to 4 for severity of hepatitis. Rabbits surviving 10 days were sacrificed on Day 10 for histologic examination. The extent of galactosamine-induced hepatic injury was similar in all six groups as manifest by peak mean SGPT (range: 2,662 to 3,568 IU per liter), SGOT (range: 4,435 to 5,625 IU per liter) levels and hepatic histologic findings. The overall survival rate in controls was 6/27 (22%); in insulin/glucagon-treated animals 2/9 (22%), and in the amino acid-treated group 2/10 (20%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology; D005688:Galactosamine; D005934:Glucagon / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000596:Amino Acids; D007328:Insulin; D005688:Galactosamine; D005934:Glucagon