Changes in hepatic energy charge, blood ketone body ratio, and indocyanine green clearance in relation to DNA synthesis after hepatectomy.

The changes in the energy charge (ATP + 0.5 ADP)/(ATP + ADP + AMP) levels of the remnant liver were studied in relation to changes in the incorporation rate of methyl-3H-thymidine into DNA, the blood ratio of acetoacetate/beta-hydroxybutyrate and indocyanine green (ICG) clearance in 70% hepatectomized rabbits. The energy charge levels of the remnant liver decreased rapidly to 0.767 from 0.856 of normal, despite a marked enhancement of mitochondrial phosphorylative activity, concomitant with the fall in blood ketone body ratio, before a maximal increase of DNA synthesis after hepatectomy. Blood ketone body ratio was correlated with hepatic energy charge (r = 0.696, p less than 0.01). After a maximal increase of DNA synthesis, hepatic energy charge levels and the blood ketone body ratios increased gradually to normal levels, concomitant with a rise in ICG clearance. Energy charge levels of the remnant liver can be evaluated by the blood ketone body ratio.