HEPATIC ADENINE-NUCLEOTIDES AND DNA-SYNTHESIS DURING THE REGENERATIVEAND ATROPHIC PROCESS OF THE LIVER LOBES AFTER SELECTIVE PORTAL-VEIN LIGATION

Selective portal vein occlusion prior to aggressive hepatic resection is now an alternative way to decrease postoperative morbidity and mort ality rates. However, the detailed changes in the hepatic energy statu s and DNA synthesis rate in both portal vein ligated (PVL) and nonliga ted (PVNL) lobes of the liver are not dear. In rats, the portal branch that supplies 70% of the liver volume was ligated, and changes in art erial ketone body ratio (AKBR), liver weight, histology, DNA synthesis rate and adenine nucleotides of the PVL and PVNL liver lobes were det ermined before and 1, 2, 4 and 7 days after portal vein ligation, and compared with those in sham-operated rats. The weight of the PVL lobes decreased, while that of the PVNL lobes increased depending on time. The DNA synthesis rates of the PVNL lobes were significantly higher th an those in sham-operated control fiver during the first 4 days with t he maximal value on the 2nd day, while those of PVL lobes were essenti ally similar to the control values, Energy charge (EC) in both PVL and PVNL lobes significantly decreased on day I and recovered gradually, but with less extent in the regenerating PVNL lobes. The concentration s of total adenine nucleotides (TAN) in both the PVL and PVNL lobes we re essentially similar during the first 2 days, but became significant ly lower in PVL lobes after day 4. A decrease in EC preceded an increa se in DNA synthesis only in the PVNL lobes, in contrast to the PVL lob es. Mitosis of hepatocytes on day 2 and subsequently enlarged lobules with an increased number of hepatocytes were histologic features in th e PVNL liver. The AKBR was not correlated with hepatic energy charge o f the liver. In conclusion, PVNL liver regenerates preceded by a decre ase in EC and a subsequent increase in DNA synthesis keeping TAN const ant, while PVL liver becomes atrophic, with a similar change in EC of the PVNL liver but ultimately decreased TAN without any change in DNA synthesis. AKBR is not a parameter reflecting the hepatic EC after por tal branch ligation.