THE INFLUENCE OF ESSENTIAL PHOSPHOLIPIDS (ESSENTIALE) ON LIVER-REGENERATION IN GAMMA-IRRADIATED RATS

Gamma irradiation with a dose of 5.7 Gy within 30 min before partial h epatectomy (PHE) caused latent damage in the intact rat liver. This wa s expressed in the course of proliferation induced in the liver remnan t by inhibition of the regenerative process, which was indicated by a decreased mitotic index and cellularity, an increased ratio of metapha ses/prophases and a high chromosomal aberration frequency. The prepara tion of essential phospholipids (ESSENTIALE) that was injected in a do se of 360 mg/kg (i.p.) either 24 h before irradiation or 30 min after irradiation or repeatedly before and after irradiation, markedly stimu lated the process of liver regeneration after PHE in both nonirradiate d and irradiated rats. it moderated all the alterations induced by irr adiation, especially changes in cellularity. The most effective was th e repeated administration of ESSENTIALE whereas its single administrat ion before irradiation was more effective than that after irradiation. Our results suggest that ESSENTIALE has not only a stabilizing effect on cell membranes, but also mitigates damage of genetic material indu ced by irradiation.