The effect of a tumour necrosis factor antibody on the regenerative response after partial hepatectomy in rats.
In this study we investigated the effect of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) on the regenerative response after partial hepatectomy. Adult male rats were injected intravenously with an antibody to TNF immediately after partial hepatectomy. Animals were sacrificed at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h postoperatively. Hepatic thymidine kinase (TK) activity, liver weight to body weight (LW/BW) ratio, and mitotic index (MI) were used as indices of hepatic regeneration. The rats treated with TNF-Ab had significantly lower levels of TK activity in the liver at 24 h postoperatively compared to the saline treated animals. Furthermore the peak hepatic TK activity was delayed to 48 h in the rats treated with TNF-Ab. The mitotic indices and LW/BW ratios in the TNF-Ab- and saline-treated animals were similar. These data suggest that TNF potentiates the regenerative response after partial hepatectomy.
Department of Surgery, Medical School, Cape Town, South Africa.
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D
Kahn
S C
SC
Robson
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R
Hickman
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001835:Body Weight; D006498:Hepatectomy; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
D000906:Antibodies; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013937:Thymidine Kinase