Abstract
In a previous paper it has been shown about the effects of partial hepatoectomy on flavin enzymes in the livers of normal and riboflavin deficient mise. Present study was undertaken to determine how flavin contents change in the regenerating liver of mice or rat under the normal and the deficient conditions of riboflavin or iron. Only 10 percent of the liver was resected because the riboflavin or iron deficient animals were so emaciated, and riboflavin in the regenerating liver was determined during a restoration (postoperative) period of 24 to 55 hours. The riboflavin content was proved to increase significantly under the condition of riboflavin deficiency, in which the content in the liver was very low before operation, whereas it decreased under the normal or iron deficient condition in which the content was, of course, normal. Xanthine oxidase activity was also determined under the same conditions, and the activity was proved to increase not only in the regenerating liver, but also in the spleen and small intestine of rats partially hepatectomized under the normal condition as well as the deficient conditions. On this latter result it is probably seen that the animals might be similarly influenced by the partial hepatectomy no matter whether they are in normal or deficient state. Nevertheless, increment phenomena of riboflavin in the regenerating liver was not seen unless the riboflavin content in the liver was very low before partial hepatectomy. Consequently, it is presumed that some riboflavin is mobilized from other tissues to liver to take part in the regenerating process in the case of riboflavin deficiency in which riboflavin content in the liver is very low.
