title: Minoxidil, a K(ATP) channel opener, accelerates DNA synthesis following partial hepatectomy in rats.
abstract: A large number of studies have reported the action of K(ATP) channel openers in accelerating the proliferation of hepatocytes and many other cell types in vitro. Few studies, however, have examined the proliferative effect of K(ATP) channel openers in vivo. The aim of this study was to determine whether the K(ATP) channel opener minoxidil accelerates liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PH) in vivo. Male Wistar rats underwent a 70% partial hepatectomy (PH) after receiving a subcutaneous injection of minoxidil (0.01 mg/kg or 0.03 mg/kg). Some of the rats were intravenously treated with 5-hydroxydecanoic acid (5-HD, 10 mg/kg) just before the minoxidil injection. Seventy-two hours after PH, DNA synthesis was immunohistochemically assessed by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation into the nuclei. Minoxidil induced significant and dose-dependent increase in the BrdU labeling index after PH, and 5-HD reversed this minoxidil-induced change. Minoxidil did not significantly affect the changes in liver weight and liver function after PH. The hepatic levels of prealbumin decreased by about 60% after PH and minoxidil inhibited the decrease. In conclusion, the K(ATP) channel opener minoxidil enhanced DNA synthesis after PH without affecting the liver function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Abeno, Osaka 545-8585, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: Shigekazu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takemura
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Minamiyama
authors.forename: Seikan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hai
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Shintaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kodai
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirohashi
authors.forename: Shigefumi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suehiro
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006498:Hepatectomy; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008914:Minoxidil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D015221:Potassium Channels; D011228:Prealbumin; D008914:Minoxidil; D004247:DNA; D000410:Alanine Transaminase