Eliminating metabolic abnormalities of portacaval shunting by restoring normal liver blood flow.
Portacaval shunting causes a variety of anatomic, metabolic, and physiological changes. However, it has not been determined whether, and to what degree, these changes are permanent after a sustained period of shunting. We prepared three groups of rats for study of the recovery process. One group had side-to-side shunts for 3 wk, one group had side-to-side shunts for 2 wk followed by the restoration of normal liver circulation for 1 wk, and one group (control) had sham operations. Side-to-side shunting causes liver atrophy, increased plasma ammonia, altered plasma and brain amino acid spectra, decreased plasma glucose, and increased transport of neutral amino acids across the blood-brain barrier. After restoration of the normal pattern of liver circulation by shunt repair, the liver regained its normal size within 1 day. All abnormalities associated with liver dysfunction disappeared with the exception of plasma glucose, which remained approximately 15% lower than control values.
Hawkins
P A
PA
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Finch University of Health Sciences, Chicago Medical School, Illinois 60064-3095, USA.
DeJoseph
M R
MR
Hawkins
R A
RA
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008297:Male; D011167:Portacaval Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors
D000596:Amino Acids