CHANGES IN LIVER MEMBRANE-POTENTIALS AFTER PARTIAL-HEPATECTOMY IN RATS

Changes in potential differences (PD) across hepatocyte membranes afte r partial hepatectomy may play an important role in hepatic homeostati c mechanisms and regenerative activity. To date, few studies have atte mpted to describe the extent and duration of such changes. In the pres ent study, we documented PD values immediately before and for a 24-hou r period after a partial hepatectomy (PHx) of 70% in healthy adult rat s, We also documented PD changes after 30% and 90% PHx and PD values i n different lobes of the same liver before and after PHx, Our findings showed that the liver depolarizes promptly (within 5 minutes of PHx) and that changes in PD are sustained for approximately 18 hours before returning to baseline values. We also observed that the magnitude of hepatic depolarization correlates with the extent of PHx, Finally, we did not observe regional differences in PD recordings from various lob es before and after PHx, These findings enhance our understanding of t he physiological changes that occur in regenerating livers after PHx i n rats.