Abstract
We studied the effect of portal embolization (PE) on compensatory hypetrophy, especially under the condition of cholestasis. For this study, we developed a rabbit model of partial hepatectomy, PE, bile duct ligation (BL) and PE+BL. 3H-thymidine incorporation (in vitro) into the untreated lobe after PE was enhanced mildly but continuously from Day 1 to 7, (Day 7; 229.1± 72.0%) and this enhancement was not suppressed by partial biliary retention in the embolized lobe (205.4±52.5). Atrophy of the embolized lobe after PE was greater under the condition of cholestasis, and the Day 14 weight of the untreated lobe was heavier with partial cholestasis (2.18±0.06%/body weight) than without cholestasis (1.14±0.04%). In the embolized and cholestatic lobe, DNA synthesis in vitro showed a peak at Day 5 (Peak value; 356.2± 68.2%), which was thought to indicated a high regeneration potential. But in vivo, actual regeneration (bromodeoxyuridine labelling index) was strongly suppressed. Therefore, we concluded that the effect of PE was not suppressed by the biliary retention in the embolized lobe. And the biliary drainage of the embolized lobe was thought not to be an advantage for regeneration of the untreated lobe.