Abstract
It has long been known that animals fail to survive extirpation of the liver. The recognized changes in the blood resulting from this procedure show clearly that the liver is essentially concerned with both carbohydrate and protein metabolisms. Does the organ possess a vital function in relation to fat metabolism as well?
For the purpose of solving this and other problems, a successful method of inducing liver insufficiency in rabbits has been devised, whereby slightly more than 90% of the liver is removed without demonstrable interference with the return of blood to the heart. Unless treated, the animals survive but 6 to 18 hours, dying with low blood sugar and convulsions. If given glucose, they live for varying periods up to 5 days, dying eventually in a state resembling that developing in dogs deprived of the entire liver. 1 A study of the respiratory quotient of rabbits deprived of 90% of the liver has brought out the fact that fat metabolism is carried on as readily and as rapidly after the operation as before.
The respiratory quotient of intact rabbits, fasted 3 days, was found to be low, indicating that the body metabolism was largely that of fat. Fasting rabbits were, therefore, employed for the work and, after the preliminary determination of the respiratory quotient, 90% of the liver was ablated. Six to 8 hours thereafter, when the immediate effects of operation and anesthesia had worn off, the respiratory quotient was again determined. No glucose had been given and at this time the blood sugar concentration was found to be 0.60 to 0.70 mg. per cc. In several instances another respiratory quotient was determined on the following day, 24 hours after operation. The animals in which this was done received just enough glucose by mouth to maintain the blood sugar level above the minimum compatible with life.
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