Iron loading and the liver: the effect on regeneration after partial hepatectomy.

The gain in weight and incidence of mitosis of the posterior lobes of iron-loaded and control rats are compared following partial hepatectomy. The percentage gain in weight of the regenerating livers over the first 72 hours was similar in the two groups, but at 11 days and 12 weeks growth of the iron-loaded livers was less than that of the controls. An increased incidence of mitosis was found in the iron-loaded rats, both before and after partial hepatectomy.