Summary
Rats were treated with phenobarbital (50 mg/kg) for 7 days prior to or after partial hepatectomy. Liver weight, protein, DNA, and RNA content were determined in liver tissue removed at operation as well as in regenerating liver 7 days later at the time of death. When rats were treated with phenobarbital in the preoperative period an increase in liver weight secondary to cell hyperplasia was observed as compared to livers of rats treated with sodium chloride. The weight of regenerating liver of preoperatively treated rats did not differ from the controls, but protein concentration was significantly higher (P≦0.001).
When phenobarbital was applied only in the postoperative period, a highly significant (P≦0.001) enlargement of the regenerating liver tissue was found secondary to cell hypertrophy without hyperplasia, whereas protein concentration was unchanged. An increased RNA/DNA ratio, however, suggests that further protein synthesis is enhanced. The results show that both preoperative and postoperative phenobarbital treatment aids in hepatic tissue enlargement, though by a different mechanism.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Frey J, Zange M, Greim H, Remmer H (1968) Accelerated regeneration of the liver produced by phenobarbital. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmakol Exp Pathol 259:167
Hilton J, Sartorelli AC (1970) Induction by phenobarbital of microsomal mixed oxidase enzymes in regenerating rat liver. J Biol Chem 245:4187–4192
Boobis AR, Pollok D (1971) Influence of phenobarbitone on liver regeneration and microsomal N-demethylating activity in partially hepatectomized rats. Br J Pharmacol 43:458P-459P
Rüttimann G (1972) Effects of phenobarbital on hepatocyte proliferation in rats following partial hepatectomy. Experientia 28:1196–1197
Higgins GM, Anderson RM (1931) Experimental pathology of the liver. I. Restoration of the liver of the white rat following partial surgical removal. Arch Pathol 12:186–202
Dische Z (1955) Color reactions of nucleic acid components. In: Chargaff E, Davidson JN (eds) The nucleic acids. Academic Press, New York, pp 285–305
Dische Z (1953) Qualitative and quantitative colorimetric determination of heptoses. J Biol Chem 204:983–997
Lowry OH, Rosenbourg NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:263–275
Böhm N, Moser B (1976) Reversible Hyperplasie und Hypertrophie der Mäuseleber unter funktioneller Belastung mit Phenobarbital. Beitr Pathol 157:283–300
Remmer H (1967) Die Induktion arzneimittelabbauender Enzyme im endoplastischen Retikulum der Leberzelle durch Pharmaka. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 92:2001–2008
Schlicht I, Korasky W, Schulte-Hermann R, Magour S (1967) Zur Lebervergrößerung unter dem Einfluß von Pharmaka. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmakol Exp Pathol 259:251–255
Kunz W, Schaude G, Schmid W, Siess M (1966) Lebervergrößerung durch Fremdstoffe. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmakol Exp Pathol 254:470–488
Schuster L, Jick H (1966) The turnover of microsomal protein in the livers of phenobarbital-treated mice. J Biol Chem 241:5361–5365
Ragnotti G, Aletti G (1978) Phenobarbitone-induced stimulation of protein synthesis in liver of diabetic rat. Biochim Biophys Acta 521:352–362
Orrenius S (1968) Liver enzyme-membrane responses in drug induction. In: Campbell PN (ed) The interaction of drug and subcellular components in animal cells. Churchill, London, pp 97–117
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schweiger, H. Late phase of liver restoration following partial hepatectomy in phenobarbital-treated rats. Res. Exp. Med. 182, 21–26 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01852283
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01852283