The liver is a major site of glucose disposal during chronic (5 day) total parenteral (TPN) and enteral (TEN) nutrition. Net hepatic glucose uptake (NHGU) is dependent on the route of delivery when only glucose is delivered acutely; however, the hepatic response to chronic TPN and TEN is very similar. We aimed to determine whether the route of nutrient delivery altered the acute (first 8 h) response of the liver and whether chronic enteral delivery of glucose alone could augment the adaptive response to TPN. Chronically catheterized conscious dogs received either TPN or TEN containing glucose, Intralipid, and Travasol for either 8 h or 5 days. Another group received TPN for 5 days, but ϳ50% of the glucose in the nutrition was given via the enteral route (TPNϩEG). Hepatic metabolism was assessed with tracer and arteriovenous difference techniques. In the presence of similar arterial plasma glucose levels (ϳ6 mM), NHGU and net hepatic lactate release increased approximately twofold between 8 h and 5 days in TPN and TEN. NHGU (26 Ϯ 1 vs. 23 Ϯ 3 mol ⅐ kg Ϫ1 ⅐ min Ϫ1 ) and net hepatic lactate release (44 Ϯ 1 vs. 34 Ϯ 6 mol ⅐ kg Ϫ1 ⅐ min Ϫ1 ) in TPNϩEG were similar to results for TPN, despite lower insulin levels (96 Ϯ 6 vs. 58 Ϯ 16 pM, TPN vs. TPNϩEG). TEN does not acutely enhance NHGU or disposition above that seen with TPN. However, partial delivery of enteral glucose is effective in decreasing the insulin requirement during chronic TPN.intestine; glycogen IN STRESSED STATES (trauma, injury, or infection) nutritional support is often provided to patients either via the parenteral (TPN) or enteral (TEN) route. Prior studies suggest that when the nutrition (either TPN or TEN) is given continuously for 5 days liver glucose uptake is markedly augmented; the liver removes ϳ45% of the exogenous glucose (1). Even more surprisingly, substantial liver glucose uptake occurred in the absence of hyperglycemia (ϳ6.7 mmol/l) and in only mild hyperinsulinemia (102 pmol/l) (1). Recently, our group (3) observed that the enhancement in the capacity of the liver to take up glucose (i.e., adaptive response) begins within 5 h after initiation of TPN and is nearly fully manifest by 24 h.The enteral route is the preferred route for delivery of exogenous nutrients (12,14). In postsurgical and stressed patients, isocaloric enteral nutrition can be given without significant accompanying hyperglycemia (22, 23) compared with that shown with TPN. A potential benefit of the enteral route is that when only glucose is delivered via the enteral route in the acute setting it enhances net hepatic glucose uptake (NHGU) to a greater extent than when glucose is delivered via a peripheral route; this route-dependent effect has been termed the "portal signal" (7,20). The portal signal can rapidly (Ͻ15 min) augment NHGU; it does not require the presence of hyperglycemia or hyperinsulinemia (11). Surprisingly, when TEN is administered chronically in unstressed animals, which should activate the portal signal, NHGU is not any greater than that seen with TPN...

In response to chronic (5 days) TPN, the liver becomes a major site of glucose disposal, removing approximately 45% (4.5 mg.kg(-1).min(-1)) of exogenous glucose. Moreover, approximately 70% of glucose is not stored but released as lactate. We aimed to determine in chronically catheterized conscious dogs the time course of adaptation to TPN and the glycogen depletion impact on early time course. After an 18-h (n = 5) fast, TPN was infused into the inferior vena cava for 8 (n = 5) or 24 h (n = 6). A third group, of 42-h-fasted animals (n = 6), was infused with TPN for 8 h. TPN was infused at a rate designed to match the dog's calculated basal energy and nitrogen requirements. NHGU (-2.3 +/- 0.1 to 2.2 +/- 0.7 to 3.9 +/- 0.6 vs. -1.7 +/- 0.3 to 1.1 +/- 0.5 to 2.9 +/- 0.4 mg.kg(-1).min(-1), basal to 4 to 8 h, 18 vs. 42 h) and net hepatic lactate release (0.7 +/- 0.3 to 0.6 +/- 0.1 to 1.4 +/- 0.2 vs. -0.6 +/- 0.1 to 0.1 +/- 0.1 to 0.8 +/- 0.1 mg.kg(-1).min(-1), basal to 4 to 8 h) increased progressively. Net hepatic glycogen repletion and tracer determined that glycogen syntheses were similar. After 24 h of TPN, NHGU (5.4 +/- 0.6 mg.kg(-1).min(-1)) and net hepatic lactate release (2.6 +/- 0.4 mg.kg(-1).min(-1)) increased further. In summary, 1) most hepatic adaptation to TPN occurs within 24 h after initiation of TPN, and 2) prior glycogen depletion does not augment hepatic adaptation rate.