Sustained function in atrophying liver tissue after portal branch ligation in the rat.
BACKGROUND
Preoperative segmental portal vein occlusion has become a common method to prevent liver failure after extended hepatic resection. To date, it is not elucidated whether atrophy by portal deprivation with concomitant contralateral regeneration leads to impaired liver function. We addressed this question by examining the expression of liver function proteins related to glucose homeostasis and acute-phase response in a corresponding animal model.


METHODS
Male Wistar rats were subjected to either portal branch ligation (PBL), partial hepatectomy (PH), or sham operation (SO). The mRNA expression and chronological distribution of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6P), glucagon receptor (GR), glceraldehyd-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase (GAPDH), albumin, fibronectin, and C1-esterase-inhibitor (C1-Inh) genes were examined by Northern-blot hybridizations. Determinations of serum-glucose and glycogen staining by periodic acid and Schiff were performed to analyze changes in glucose mobilization and storage.


RESULTS
In regenerating liver tissue after PH and PBL, we detected a selective reduction of transcripts encoding G6P during the prereplicative period 6 and 12 h after surgery and a contemporary drop in serum glucose levels. This impairment proved to be more distinct after PH than after PBL. Compared with the residual liver after PH, the level of glycogen disappearance was lower after PBL in the regenerating lobe. In the portal-deprived liver tissue, the expression of genes coding for G6P, GR, GAPDH, albumin, fibronectin, and C1-Inh was not altered compared with the SO group.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, portal-deprived liver tissue undergoing atrophy retains its liver-specific differentiation and function and helps to maintain homeostasis during the fast regeneration of the non-occluded liver lobe.
Mueller
Lars
L
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.l.mueller@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Grotelueschen
Rainer
R
Meyer
Jannine
J
Vashist
Yogesh K
YK
Abdulgawad
Awad
A
Wilms
Christian
C
Hillert
Christian
C
Rogiers
Xavier
X
Broering
Dieter C
DC
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001284:Atrophy; D001483:Base Sequence; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D017931:DNA Primers; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000235:genetics; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics; D006498:Hepatectomy; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009929:Organ Size; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012016:Reference Values; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D001786:Blood Glucose; D017931:DNA Primers; D005353:Fibronectins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases