M. Rokicki et W. Rokicki, LIVER-REGENERATION IN RATS AFTER COMPLETE AND PARTIAL OCCLUSION OF THE PORTAL BLOOD INFLUX, Research in experimental medicine, 193(5), 1993, pp. 305-313
The role of portal blood influx in liver regeneration was studied in r
ats. Partial hepatectomy with removal of 45% of the liver mass was per
formed after end-to-side portacaval shunt (PCS) leading to complete di
version of portal blood from the liver, or after side-to-side PCS caus
ing partial portal blood deprivation. Liver resection was limited to 4
5% to avoid the high mortality rate in rats with vascular anastomoses
and 70% hepatectomy, but it did not change the pattern of liver regene
ration. The total RNA and DNA content. the rate of DNA synthesis and t
he number of hepatocyte mitoses in regenerating liver were measured in
comparison to sham-operated controls. Complete occlusion of the porta
l blood influx did not block hepatoproliferative response. but caused
a significant decrease and delay of regeneration. Partial preservation
of portal flow in rats with side-to-side PCS markedly improved liver
regeneration in comparison to end-to-side PCS, but the process was slo
wer than in the control group.