title: Protective effects of nitric oxide on hepatic steatosis induced by total parenteral nutrition in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of nitric oxide (NO) on hepatic steatosis induced by total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty normal Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: group A, free access to food and water; group B, TPN; group C, TPN plus arginine; group D, TPN plus NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, NO synthase inhibitor); group E, TPN plus arginine and L-NAME. At the seventh day, liver function tests were examined, lipid content, nitric oxide level, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity were measured, and histology was examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The hepatic lipid content [triglyceride (mmol/g tissue), cholesterol (mmol/g tissue)] in group B was increased compared with group A (39.3+/-2.4 and 13.1+/-1.1 vs 6.9+/-0.8 and 5.6+/-0.6) (P<0.05). It was higher in group D (50+/-6 and 14.1+/-1.7) than in group B (P<0.05), whereas lower in group C (18+/-4 and 7+/-3) than in group B (P<0.05). The activity and distribution of NOS in the liver were associated with the content and distribution of hepatic lipid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that nitric oxide produced by the liver may protect hepatic steatosis induced by total parenteral nutrition in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Hainan Provincial People's Hospital, Haikou 570311, China. zhengjf168@263.net
authors.forename: Jin-Fang
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Hai-Dong
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li-Jian
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002784:Cholesterol; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase