FUNCTIONAL CONTRIBUTION OF PREOPERATIVE PORTAL-VEIN OCCLUSION TO HEPATECTOMY - WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO HEPATIC ENERGY-CHARGE AND DNA-SYNTHESIS AFTER HEPATECTOMY IN RATS

Objective: To examine possible functional contributions of preoperativ e portal branch ligation before hepatectomy (PBI-Hx). Design: Rats wer e randomly divided into 3 groups. In the PBL-Hx group, the portal bran ch supplying the left lateral and median lobes of the liver was ligate d and the corresponding lobes (48% of the whole liver) were excised 2 days later. In the sham groups (one 68% Hx; the other 47% [hereafter, sham-67% Hx, and sham-47% Hx]), originally ligated lobes and left late ral and caudate lobes, similar to the excised liver volume in the PBL- Hx group, respectively, were excised 2 days after sham operation witho ut PBL. Main Outcome Measures: Hepatic adenine nucleotides and energy charge, which are essential for vital function of hepatocytes, and liv er regeneration were assessed by the DNA synthesis rate and weight bef ore Hx and on days 1, 2, 3, and 7 after Hx. Results: The remaining liv er weight was restored similarly in the PBL-Hx and sham-47% Hx groups and more rapidly than in the sham-68% Hx group. Further enhancement of DNA synthesis did not occur after Hx in the PBL-Hx group, and hepatic energy charge did not decrease. In contrast, hepatic DNA synthesis wa s significantly activated depending on the excised liver volume in bot h the sham-Hx groups and was accompanied by corresponding decreases in hepatic energy charge. Conclusion: Preoperative PBL. has a functional advantage because the recovery of the remaining liver volume is not i mpaired and hepatic energy charge is preserved with no further enhance ment of DNA synthesis after Hx.