AIM:To investigate glucose homeostasis and in particular gluconeogenesis in a large animal model of acute liver failure(ALF).METHODS:Six pigs with paracetamol induced ALF under general anaesthesia were studied over 25 h.Plasma samples were withdrawn every five hours from a central vein.Three animals were used as controls and were maintained under anaesthesia only.Using 1 H NMR spectroscopy we identified most gluconeogenic amino acids along with lactate and pyruvate in the animal plasma samples.RESULTS:No significant changes were observed in the concentrations of the amino acids studied in the animals maintained under anaesthesia only.If we look at the ALF animals,we observed a statistically significant rise of lactate(P<0.003)and pyruvate(P<0.018) at the end of the experiments.We also observed statistically significant rises in the concentrations of alanine(P<0.002),glycine(P<0.005),threonine(P< 0.048),tyrosine(P<0.000),phenylalanine(P<0.000) and isoleucine(P<0.01).Valine levels decreased significantly(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Our pig model of ALF is characterized by an altered gluconeogenetic capacity,an impaired tricarboxylic acid(TCA)cycle and a glycolytic state. AIM: To investigate glucose homeostasis and in particular gluconeogenesis in a large animal model of acute liver failure (ALF). METHODS: Six pigs with paracetamol induced ALF under general anaesthesia were studied over 25 h.Plasma samples were withdrawn every five hours from a central vein.Three animals were used as controls and were maintained under anaesthesia only. Using 1 H NMR spectroscopy we identified most gluconeogenic amino acids along with lactate and pyruvate in the animal plasma samples .RESULTS: No significant changes were observed in the concentrations of the amino acids studied in the animals maintained under anaesthesia only. If we look at the ALF animals, we observed a significant rise in lactate (P <0.003) and pyruvate (P <0.018) at the end of the experiments. (P <0.01). The levels of inaline (P <0.05), threonine (P <0.05), phenylalanine (P <0.000) and isoleucine sed significantly (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: Our pig model of ALF is characterized by an altered gluconeogenetic capacity, an impaired tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and a glycolytic state.