EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON LIVER REGENERATION AFTER MAJOR HEPATECTOMY UNDER THE PORTACAVAL SHUNT

Abstract

In order to study the hepatic regeneration under the portacaval shunt, changes of various parameters, especially plasma cyclic AMP levels after glucagon administration following major hepatic resection under the portacaval shunt in rats were investigated.
The results were as follows;
1) Death due to hepatic failure was encountered in 16 of 40 rats during 4 days after hepatectomy.
2) Ratios of liver to body weight were recovered to 60% of preoperative ones 4 weeks after hepatectomy.
3) Remarkable hypoglycemia and hyperglucagonemia were found one day and 3 days after operation. Hyperglucagonemia was remained during postoperative course.
4) Plasma cyclic AMP levels induced after glucagon administration did not significantly increase until 3 days after operation and were only 50% of preoperative ones 4 weeks after operation.
From these results, liver regeneration under portacaval shunt was remarkably delayed and was not achieved completely. Plasma cyclic AMP response to glucagon administration seemed to be useful as a parameter of liver regeneration.