Effect of insulin-like growth factor-I on nitrogen balance and intestinal galactose transport in rats with moderate liver cirrhosis.
The malnutrition caused by liver cirrhosis (LC) often worsens the course of the disease. Patients affected by LC often have a low bioavailability of the anabolic liver peptide insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of low doses of IGF-I on the nutritional status and in vivo jejunal transport of D-galactose in anatomically, pathologically and biochemically confirmed moderate, non-ascitic, cirrhotic rats. LC was experimentally induced in growing rats by inhalation of CCl4 and addition of phenobarbital to drinking water. Both the nutritional status, as evaluated by N balance, and in vivo intestinal transport of D-galactose, were significantly impaired in cirrhotic rats. As compared with healthy rats, administration of 20 microg human recombinant IGF-I/kg body weight for 14 d to cirrhotic rats significantly improved N balance variables and restored in vivo intestinal transport of the sugar. However, IGF-I had no effect on the steatorrhoea associated with LC. These results suggest that low doses of IGF-I may have beneficial effects on the malnutrition associated with moderate LC.
Núñez
Marina
M
Department of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
Urdaneta
Elena
E
Santidrián
Santiago
S
D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005243:Feces; D005690:Galactose / Q000378:metabolism*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C065700:myotrophin; D009584:Nitrogen; D005690:Galactose