Biological significance of AFP expression in liver injury induced by CCL4

To clarify whether alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) expression in acute liver injury is related to hepatic regeneration, we measured serum AFP and GOT in rats with CCl4-induced liver injury, and investigated proliferating activity of AFP-positive cells using a combined technique of immunocytochemistry and au toradiography of H-3-thymidine. Serum AFP reached a peak just after that of GOT. AFP-immunoreactivity was found in hepatocytes bordering necrotic area around central veins and ultrastructural findings showed apoptotic phenome non in AFP-positive cells. The combined technique showed the presence of H- 3-thymidine grains in hepatocytes bordering the necrotic area, but the grai ns were not simultaneously seen in AFP-positive cells. Our findings suggest that AFP synthesis is related rather with cell death than with regeneratio n after severe hepatitis induced by CCl4.