Abstract

Aim: Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is a technique which is use to give vitally mandatory substances in to the venous compartments whenever the gastrointestinal system cannot be used by the patients. Telomerase catalyzes DNA synthesis, which is necessary to maintain telomere length and stabilize the genome to allow continued cell proliferation. In this study, we explored the effects of TPN administration on telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression in various tissue and serum telomerase level.
Material and Methods: In this study a number of 42 same-aged albino, equal number of male and female, new zealand rabbits were use, divided in to three groups. Group 1 rabbits received TPN for 10 days via a central venous catheter. Group 2 received 50 mL/kg/day physiological saline via a central venous catheter. Group 3 served as the control group. The rabbits were sacrificed after 10 days, and serum telomerase levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. TERT expression in gonadal, liver, jejunum, and skin tissues were determined immunohistochemically. Blood samples were obtained before and after TPN and saline administration in the TPN and serum saline groups, respectively, and at the end of the experiment in the control group.
Results: Telomerase expression in liver, gonads and serum level of TPN group was significantly higher than control and serum saline groups.
Conclusion: TPN may be a positive effect in liver and gonadal telomer kinetic. However, we think that TPN increases DNA damage throughout the body.

Key words: Total Parenteral Nutrition; Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase; Liver; Ovary; Testis; Tabbit.