[Autophagy in fibrotic and postoperative remnant liver in rat].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the characteristics of autophagy in fibrotic and postoperative remnant liver.


METHODS
Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group; fibrosis group, which received the solution of CCl4 in oil twice a week for 5 weeks; and hepatectomy group, which underwent 70% hepatectomy. Liver tissues and plasma were harvested 18 hours after the surgery. The rats' general conditions and plasma liver function were observed. Histopathological characteristics and regeneration were observed with microscope and transmission electron microscope. Qualitative analysis of autophagosome was made base on the data from transmission electron microscope.


RESULTS
Compared with the control group, plasma total protein and albumin level significantly decreased in the fibrosis group (P < 0.01). Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) index was 85%-95% in the fibrosis group. Plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels significantly increased in the hepatectomy group compared with the control group (P < 0.01), while the autophagical index significantly decreased in both the fibrosis group and hepatectomy group compared with the control group (-95%, P < 0.01; -19%, P < 0.05, respectively). PCNA index was 20%-30% in the hepatectomy group.


CONCLUSIONS
Autophagy is weakened after fibrosis and hepatectomy, although it differs between these two processes. Proper regulation of autophagy may help facilitate the recovery of the residual liver function after hepatectomy.
Mao
Yi-lei
YL
Department of Liver Surgery, PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730, China.
Chen
Rong-rong
RR
Yang
Hua-yu
HY
Zhang
Jing-chun
JC
Zhang
Yi-dan
YD
Ma
Jian-hui
JH
Sang
Xin-ting
XT
Lu
Xin
X
Zhong
Shou-xian
SX
Huang
Jie-fu
JF
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001343:Autophagy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase