Liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy and stimulation by hepatic stimulatory substance in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic rats.

The effects of hepatic stimulatory substance (HSS) on cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic rats were studied after 70% partial hepatectomy. Liver cirrhosis was produced by weekly intragastric infusion of chloroform for 12-16 weeks. The HSS was prepared by extraction from the livers of weanling mice. Rats in the experimental group were injected with 5 ml HSS after 70% partial hepatectomy, and those in the control group received normal saline. The results showed that the 3H-thymidine incorporation was higher in the HSS group 24 h after partial hepatectomy in both cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic rats, and persistently higher in the non-cirrhotic rats at 48 h. Total DNA was significantly higher in the HSS group of non-cirrhotic rats 24 and 48 h after partial hepatectomy. The restituted liver volume and weight was significantly higher in non-cirrhotic rats 48 h after partial hepatectomy, while there was no significant difference between the HSS and the control groups in the cirrhotic rats. The HSS induced significant effects on 3H-thymidine incorporation in the non-cirrhotic liver, resulting in increasing liver weight, volume and total DNA 48 h after partial hepatectomy. In cirrhotic rats, the 3H-thymidine incorporation was higher in the HSS group at 24 h after partial hepatectomy, though not showing any increase at 48 h, but the regeneration of liver weight, volume and total DNA at 48 h showed no difference between the HSS group and the control group.