OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of parenteral nutrition (PN) with branched-chain amino acid supplementation on protein metabolism after partial hepatectomy in rats with liver cirrhosis.

METHODSEighteen rats with liver cirrhosis were randomly divided into pre-operation group (n=6), post-operation 8.5% Novamin PN group (n=6) and post-operation 10% Hepa PN group (n=6), with 6 normal rats severing as the normal control group. Five days after the operation, serum albumin (ALB), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) and plasma amino acid spectrum were measured, and ALB mRNA level in the liver was assayed using RT-PCR.

RESULTSPostoperative serum ALB was similar between 10% Hepa PN and 8.5% Novamine PN groups, but the rats in the latter group showed significantly increased serum IGF-1 level, Fischer ratio and hepatic ALB mRNA expression (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAdministration of PN with branched-chain amino acid supplementation can ameliorate plasma amino acid spectrum and increase protein synthesis in rats with liver cirrhosis after partial hepatectomy.

Albumins ; metabolism ; Amino Acids, Branched-Chain ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Hepatectomy ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; therapy ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

In this study, we evaluated the effect of the herbicide propyl 4-(2-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yloxy)benzylamino) benzoate (ZJ0273) on barley growth and explored the potential to trigger growth recovery through the application of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). Barley plants were foliar-sprayed with various concentrations of ZJ0273 (100, 500, or 1000 mg/L) at the four-leaf stage. Increasing either the herbicide concentration or measurement time after herbicide treatment significantly impaired plant morphological parameters such as plant height and biomass, and affected physiological indexes, i.e. maximal photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m), quantum yield of photosystem II (Ф_PSII), net photosynthetic rate (P_n), and chlorophyll meter value (soil and plant analyzer development (SPAD)). Cellular injury of herbicide-treated plants was also evidenced by increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidative enzyme activity. Elevated levels of herbicide significantly reduced the activity of acetolactate synthase (ALS)-a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of BCAAs. In a separate experiment, growth recovery in herbicide-stressed barley plants was studied using various concentrations of BCAAs (10, 50, 100, and 200 mg/L). Increasing BCAA concentration in growth media significantly increased the biomass of herbicide-stressed barley seedlings, but had no significant effect on non-stressed plants. Further, BCAAs (100 mg/L) significantly down-regulated ROS and consequently antioxidant enzyme levels in herbicide-stressed plants. Our results showed that exogenous application of BCAAs could reverse the inhibitory effects of ZJ0273 by restoring protein biosynthesis in barley seedlings.
Amino Acids, Branched-Chain/administration & dosage* ; Antioxidants/metabolism* ; Benzoates/pharmacology* ; Biomass ; Chlorophyll/metabolism* ; Herbicides/pharmacology* ; Hordeum/metabolism* ; Photosynthesis/drug effects* ; Plant Leaves/metabolism* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Seedlings/metabolism*