Mortality in Rats on Long-Term Parenteral Nutrition

Abstract

The long-term effect of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) was studied in rats. A failure to thrive developed and all animals died within 40 days of TPN. Autopsy invariably demonstrated the increased weight and volume of the liver and spleen. Multiple fat emboli were found in the lungs of all animals, and multiple epithelioid cell granulomas in the liver of all and in the spleen of most animals. Chronical low grade infection could not be demonstrated. Microorganisms were not found in blood or tissue specimens and endotoxin could not be demonstrated in plasma samples.