[Influence of spleen on cell cycle and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen of the liver during diethylnitrosamine-induced rat hepatocarcinogenesis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of the spleen on hepatocyte proliferative activity during experimental hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.


METHODS
Cell-cycle and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) of hepatocytes were studied by immunohistochemical and flow cytometric technique in two groups: splenectomy (45 rats) and sham-operation with laparotomy (45 rats).


RESULTS
(1) Hepatocirrhosis was formed in group A earlier than in group B. Marked degenerative changes of the liver parachyma showing vacuolization of hepatocytes were observed in hepatic lobules. (2) The proliferative level of hepatocytes increased with the progression of hepatocarcinogenesis, and topped at the 18 th week. (3) The proliferative level of the splenectomy group was lower than that of the sham-operation group in the mid-stage of carcinogenesis (t = 4.76, P < 0.05). After stopping feeding diethylnitrosamine (DENA), however, no difference was found in the hepatocyte proliferative activity between the two groups at the 18th week.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a close relationship between hepatic proliferative activity and spleen, and the spleen may play an important role in facilitating hepatic proliferation.
Wang
Guanyu
G
Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Chen
Xiaoping
X
Qiu
Fazu
F
Tao
Deding
D
D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000502:physiology*; D013156:Splenectomy
D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine