Valine-depleted
amino acid imbalance, while having a suppressive effect on
tumor growth, may induce
fatty liver. We administered
valine-depleted
total parenteral nutrition (TPN)
solution to rats subcutaneously transplanted with
ascites containing
hepatoma AH-109A and examined the time course of the development of
fatty liver. An accumulation of fatty vacuoles was observed in hepatocytes on day 4. To prevent the development of
fatty liver in
tumor-bearing rats, we administered a small amount of
valine in addition to the
valine-depleted imbalance
solution via the central vein. Such treatment, however, resulted in neither the prevention of
fatty liver development nor the suppression of
tumor growth. To supply
valine to the liver, we administered a low concentration of
valine via the portal vein simultaneously with central venous administration of
valine-depleted TPN
solution. As a result, the peripheral blood
valine level of these rats was < 0.5 that of the control group, but the
valine in the liver was maintained at the same level as that of the control group, and accumulation of
triacylglycerols in the liver was slight. However, the suppressive effect on
tumor growth was maintained, as the
tumor weight was suppressed to almost the same degree as that of rats administered only the
valine-depleted
solution.