Induction of hepatocyte proliferation and prevention of hepatocyte apoptosis by phenobarbital related to local humoral factor in mouse liver.
OBJECTIVE
To study the association of phenobarbital (Phe) inducing hepatocyte proliferation and blocking hepatocyte apoptosis with local humoral factor in liver.


METHODS
The ratio of liver/body weight, DNA content, regressive rate of hyperplastic liver, and DNA fragmentation were used to investigate whether the Phe-treated mouse liver extract (PMLE) and PMLE-95 (PMLE heated at 95 degrees C for 30 min) possessed Phe-like effects on mouse liver. Meantime, the effects of pretreatment with trypsin, RNAase, and DNAase on the activity of PMLE-95 were observed, and the differences of components between PMLE-95 and NMLE-95 (normal mouse liver extract, NMLE heated at 95 degrees C for 30 min) were analyzed with HPLC.


RESULTS
PMLE-95 stimulated hepatocyte proliferation and prevented hepatocyte apoptosis caused by withdrawing Phe in mice, and the activity of PMLE-95 was eliminated after the pretreatment with trypsin. On the chromatograms PMLE-95 had 5 main peaks, while NMLE-95 had only 4 peaks.


CONCLUSIONS
The effects of Phe on the liver were mediated by an intrinsic protein or peptide substance produced in response for the stimulation of Phe in mouse liver.
He
P
P
Eastern Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. ixweik@online.sh.cn
Shen
F
F
Wu
M C
MC
Li
L F
LF
Guo
Y J
YJ
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology*; D008110:Liver Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000633:toxicity*
D002273:Carcinogens; D008110:Liver Extracts; D010634:Phenobarbital