Reduction of liver mass due to malnutrition in rats: correlation with emaciation of animals and size of organs not inserted in the portal system

Authors

  • Osório Miguel Parra Universidade de São Paulo e Pontifícia Universidade Católica
  • Francisco Javier Hernandez-Blasquez Universidade de São Paulo e Pontifícia Universidade Católica
  • Rubens Augusto Penteado de Sousa e Silva Universidade de São Paulo e Pontifícia Universidade Católica
  • José Roberto Machado Cunha da Silva Universidade de São Paulo e Pontifícia Universidade Católica
  • Luigi Peduto Universidade de São Paulo e Pontifícia Universidade Católica
  • Magna Maltauro Soares Universidade de São Paulo e Pontifícia Universidade Católica
  • William Abrão Saad Universidade de São Paulo e Pontifícia Universidade Católica
  • William Abrão Saad Junior Universidade de São Paulo e Pontifícia Universidade Católica

Keywords:

Atrophy, Liver, Glucagon, Insulin, Liver regeneration, Malnutrition, Starvation

Abstract

We studied the effects of protein-energy malnutrition on the liver morphology of rats as compared to animal emaciation and to reduction in size of the organs not irrigated by splanchnic blood such as kidneys and spleen. The animals were divided into two groups, one of them fed ad libitum rate (N=10) and the other (N=14) receiving water but no food for 7 days, and the changes in animal weight, liver, kidney and spleen mass were determined. DNA and the protein/DNA ratio, as well as hepatocyte size, were determined in liver tissue. The liver decreased in mass (27.14%) at a significantly higher proportion (p<0.05) when compared to body emaciation (19.22%). Similar to the reduction in body weight, the masses of kidneys and spleen were reduced by 18.68% and 24.28%, respectively. The reduction in liver mass occurred due to hypoplasia and atrophy, i.e., a decrease in hepatocyte number and size, respectively. We conclude that there is a preferential consumption of liver protein in protein-energy malnutrition which is suggested to result from the additive action of the effects of overall consumption of organic reserves due to malnutrition proper and to the reduction of the hepatotrophic stimulus.

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Author Biographies

Osório Miguel Parra, Universidade de São Paulo e Pontifícia Universidade Católica

Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas , Department of Histology and Embriology, São Paulo, Brazil. Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Faculdade de Medicina de Sorocaba , Sorocaba, Brazil.

Francisco Javier Hernandez-Blasquez, Universidade de São Paulo e Pontifícia Universidade Católica

Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas , Department of Histology and Embriology, São Paulo, Brazil. Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Faculdade de Medicina de Sorocaba , Sorocaba, Brazil.

Rubens Augusto Penteado de Sousa e Silva, Universidade de São Paulo e Pontifícia Universidade Católica

Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas , Department of Histology and Embriology, São Paulo, Brazil. Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Faculdade de Medicina de Sorocaba , Sorocaba, Brazil.

José Roberto Machado Cunha da Silva, Universidade de São Paulo e Pontifícia Universidade Católica

Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas , Department of Histology and Embriology, São Paulo, Brazil. Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Faculdade de Medicina de Sorocaba , Sorocaba, Brazil.

Luigi Peduto, Universidade de São Paulo e Pontifícia Universidade Católica

Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas , Department of Histology and Embriology, São Paulo, Brazil. Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Faculdade de Medicina de Sorocaba , Sorocaba, Brazil.

Magna Maltauro Soares, Universidade de São Paulo e Pontifícia Universidade Católica

Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas , Department of Histology and Embriology, São Paulo, Brazil. Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Faculdade de Medicina de Sorocaba , Sorocaba, Brazil.

William Abrão Saad, Universidade de São Paulo e Pontifícia Universidade Católica

Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas , Department of Histology and Embriology, São Paulo, Brazil. Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Faculdade de Medicina de Sorocaba , Sorocaba, Brazil.

William Abrão Saad Junior , Universidade de São Paulo e Pontifícia Universidade Católica

Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas , Department of Histology and Embriology, São Paulo, Brazil. Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Faculdade de Medicina de Sorocaba , Sorocaba, Brazil.

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Published

1995-05-05

How to Cite

1.
Parra OM, Hernandez-Blasquez FJ, Silva RAP de S e, Silva JRMC da, Peduto L, Soares MM, Saad WA, Saad Junior WA. Reduction of liver mass due to malnutrition in rats: correlation with emaciation of animals and size of organs not inserted in the portal system. Sao Paulo Med J [Internet]. 1995 May 5 [cited 2025 Oct. 16];113(3):903-9. Available from: https://periodicosapm.emnuvens.com.br/spmj/article/view/1675

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Vol. 113 No. 3 (1995)

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Original Article

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