Effects of portal glucose infusion on thyroid hormone concentrations in serum after high energy trauma in pigs.

The effect of portal glucose infusion on serum thyroid hormone levels was studied in five anaesthetized pigs during 48 h observation in an intensive care unit following standardized high energy trauma. At 10-18 h post-trauma, and again at 28-36 h, 100 g glucose was infused into the portal circulation via a splenic vein. In six animals, otherwise treated in the same way, the glucose infusions were given via a peripheral venous catheter. During portal glucose infusion at 28-36 h post-trauma, serum T3 rose significantly above the level in the controls. After termination of the portal glucose infusion, the serum concentration again fell. At 48 h the rT3 concentration was significantly lower in the pigs given portal glucose than in the control pigs. It was concluded that portal, but not peripheral, glucose infusion can temporarily reverse the trauma-induced change in triiodothyronine metabolism. This indicates that increase of the splanchnic, and more specifically the hepatic, glucose concentration could be important for amelioration of the low T3 state.