Objective: To explore the effects of amino acid solution and recombinant human growth hormone on growth hormone/insulin like growth factor-1 (GH/IGF-1) axis after partial hepatectomy in rats with liver cirrhosis.
Methods: Six normal rats severed as normal group, while 30 rats with liver cirrhosis were randomly divided into preoperation group, 1 day postoperative group, 8.5% Novamin PN for 5 days postoperative group, 10% Hepa PN for 5 days postoperative group and rhGH + 10% Hepa PN for 5 days postoperative group. Liver function, blood glucose and serum GH, IGF-1, IGFBP-3 were determined. ALB mRNA, IGF-1 mRNA and IGFBP-3 mRNA levels in liver tissues were detected by RT-PCR. Liver Ki67 immunohistochemistry staining was studied.
Results: Compared with the 8.5% Novamine PN group, serum ALT [(103 +/- 23) IU/L vs (154 +/- 45) IU/L], ALP [(571 +/- 92) IU/L vs (972 +/- 252) IU/L], GH [(1.55 +/- 0.12) ng/ml vs (1.81 +/- 0.11) ng/ml] level were lower (P < 0.05), serum IGF-1 [(966 +/- 55) ng/ml vs (813 +/- 43) ng/ml] and IGFBP-3 [(8.1 +/- 0.3) ng/ml vs (6.9 +/- 0.2) ng/ml] level and the expression of hepatic ALB mRNA (1.24 +/- 0.06 vs 1.02 +/- 0.09), IGF-1 mRNA (0.85 +/- 0.00 vs 0.60 +/- 0.03), IGFBP-3 mRNA (0.69 +/- 0.02 vs 0.58 +/- 0.09) were higher in the 10% Hepa PN group (P < 0.05), but there was no difference in liver Ki67 labeling index [(4.8 +/- 0.3)% vs (4.4 +/- 0.4%)] (P > 0.05). Compared with the 10% Hepa PN group, serum ALP [(434 +/- 41) IU/L vs (571 +/- 92) IU/L] was much lower (P < 0.05), serum ALB [(37.0 +/- 1.8) g/L vs (32.8 +/- 1.2) g/L], blood glucose [(7.6 +/- 1.3) mmol/L vs (4.9 +/- 0.7) mmol/L], GH [(3.00 +/- 0.61) ng/ml vs (1.55 +/- 0.12) ng/ml], IGF-1 [(1100 +/- 32) ng/ml vs (966 +/- 55) ng/ml], IGFBP-3 [(9.3 +/- 0.2) ng/ml vs (8.1 +/- 0.3) ng/ml] level, the expression of hepatic ALB mRNA (1.35 +/- 0.04 vs 1.24 +/- 0.06), IGF-1 mRNA (0.97 +/- 0.00 vs 0.85 +/- 0.00) and liver Ki67 labeling index [(5.4 +/- 0.3)% vs (4.8 +/- 0.3%)] were higher (P < 0.05) in the rhGH + 10% Hepa PN group.
Conclusions: Amino acid solution and recombinant human growth hormone can influence the GH/IGF-1 axis in rats with liver cirrhosis. It may be helpful in selecting and evaluating nutrient by measuring the serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 level.