title: Administration of Escherichia coli endotoxin to rat increases liver mass and hepatocyte volume in vivo.
abstract: We have established, in vivo, an increase in liver mass and hepatocyte volume after a single intraperitoneal administration, to fasted rats, of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (0127:B8) at 3 mg/kg. The phenomenon was time- and dose-dependent and could be prevented by treatment with polyclonal antiserum against tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) before the endotoxin injection. Endotoxin caused an increase of 26% in the hepatic mass compared with fasted controls at 24 h. An increase of 27% in the hepatic water content underlay the altered hepatic mass which could not be accounted for by a change in the volume of hepatic blood and/or interstitial fluid (measured in vivo), suggesting an expansion in the hepatocellular volume. This is supported by an increase of 25% in the K+ content of the endotoxic livers. Morphometric study confirmed a 15% increase in hepatocyte volume after endotoxin administration. The data are discussed in the light of possible metabolic effects of increased hepatocyte volume.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's Canada.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Brosnan
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid; D000090:Acetoacetates / Q000097:blood; D000227:Adenine Nucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology; D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001834:Body Water; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism*; D005110:Extracellular Space; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000097:blood; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D011773:Pyruvates / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000090:Acetoacetates; D000227:Adenine Nucleotides; D004731:Endotoxins; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D007773:Lactates; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011773:Pyruvates; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C016635:acetoacetic acid; C044101:endotoxin, Escherichia coli; D004247:DNA; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000409:Alanine; D011188:Potassium; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid