title: Effects of graded glutamine intake on liver protein metabolism following partial hepatectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate whether glutamine can influence the rate of regeneration and protein metabolism in regenerating liver.
  
  
  METHODS
  Liver regeneration rate, protein content and synthesis were measured in rats 7 days after a liver resection or sham operation. After the operation, the rats were fed three elementary isonitrogenous diets, one without and two including different levels of glutamine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six rats were randomly assigned to either sham operation or liver resection. After the operation, they received an isonitrogenous, isocaloric elementary diet with a glutamine content of 0, 2 or 4%. The resected part of the liver was weighed and analysed for DNA and protein content. Seven days later, hepatic protein synthesis was measured by the flooding method using L-[3H]-phenylalanine, and the liver was analysed for DNA, RNA and protein content.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The regeneration rate was higher in the group receiving 2% glutamine but not in the group receiving 4% glutamine than in the 0% group. Total protein content was increased in regenerating liver in the 2 and 4% glutamine groups compared with the 0% group. Protein synthesis was higher 7 days after liver resection than in sham-operated rats. In the 2% group there was a tendency towards increased protein synthesis compared with the 0% group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A diet with normal glutamine content improved liver regeneration rate, total protein content and protein synthesis in regenerating liver, but an excess of glutamine did not enhance this effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Skullman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wirén
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Permert
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Garlick
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McNurlan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005973:Glutamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006498:Hepatectomy; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005973:Glutamine; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA