Dl. Qian et Jt. Brosnan, ADMINISTRATION OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI ENDOTOXIN TO RAT INCREASES LIVER MASS AND HEPATOCYTE VOLUME IN-VIVO, Biochemical journal, 313, 1996, pp. 479-486
We have established, in vivo, an increase in liver mass and hepatocyte
volume after a single intraperitoneal administration, to fasted rats,
of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (0127:B8) at 3 mg/kg. The phen
omenon was time- and dose-dependent and could be prevented by treatmen
t with polyclonal antiserum against tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-
alpha) before the endotoxin injection. Endotoxin caused an increase of
26% in the hepatic mass compared with fasted controls at 24 h. An inc
rease of 27% in the hepatic water content underlay the altered hepatic
mass which could not be accounted for by a change in the volume of he
patic blood and/or interstitial fluid (measured in vivo), suggesting a
n expansion in the hepatocellular volume. This is supported by an incr
ease of 25% in the K+ content of the endotoxic livers. Morphometric st
udy confirmed a 15% increase in hepatocyte volume after endotoxin admi
nistration. The data are discussed in the light of possible metabolic
effects of increased hepatocyte volume.