Paradoxical effects of glucose feeding on liver regeneration and survival after partial hepatectomy.

Although glucose is regularly administered to patients after partial hepatic resection, its contribution to survival and/or liver regeneration is unclear. To examine this question fed and anesthetized rats underwent 68% or 90% hepatectomy and received either oral 20% glucose solution or tap water (controls) ad lib for 24 h. Survival was compared by life table analysis and the regeneration response measured by 3H-thymidine uptake into liver deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).