AJP - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 270, Issue 6 E1037-E1042, Copyright © 1996 by American Physiological Society
Eliminating metabolic abnormalities of portacaval shunting by restoring normal liver blood flow
P. A. Hawkins, M. R. DeJoseph and R. A. Hawkins
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Finch University of Health Sciences, Chicago Medical School, Illinois 60064-3095, USA.
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.
