Xanthine oxidase activity in regenerating liver.

The xanthine oxidase activity of mouse regenerating liver has been shown to be elevated during the period of rapid liver growth and proliferation. This increase is evident when the enzyme activity is expressed per unit wet tissue weight, per unit nitrogen, or per cell. The adrenal cortex probably plays only a minor role in implementing this phenomenon. Further augmentation of the xanthine oxidase level of regenerating liver is not induced by the administration of large quantities of the substrate, xanthine, to the animal.