Intestinal metaplasia in liver of rats after partial hepatectomy and treatment with acetylaminofluorene.
OBJECTIVE
The liver is widely recognized for its ability to self-regenerate after damage. Hepatocyte replication is the primary source of liver restoration, although hepatic stem cells (of one kind or another) may be a secondary font, only brought into effect when primary regeneration is severely compromised.


METHODS
In experiments using small rodents, such an injury can be inflicted by surgically removing a large portion of the liver followed by treatment with hepatotoxin 2-acetylaminofluorene. Regeneration by hepatocyte replication is blocked and thus, stem cell involvement is promoted. However, other responses may be stimulated and this study describes the presence of mucinous glandular structures in the healing liver after two-thirds of its volume was removed via hepatectomy followed by treatment with 2-acetylaminofluorene.


RESULTS
Unique observation of intestinal metaplastic cells was seen under alcian blue/periodic acid-Schiff staining.


CONCLUSIONS
The existence of this phenotype (along with oval cells and small hepatocyte-like cells) is evidence of multipotency of progenitors involved in the hepatic healing response.
Barut
V
V
Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Westminster, London, UK. vedat.barut08@imperial.ac.uk
Sarraf
C E
CE
D015073:2-Acetylaminofluorene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000423:Alcian Blue; D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D048430:Cell Shape; D004396:Coloring Agents; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
D002273:Carcinogens; D004396:Coloring Agents; D015073:2-Acetylaminofluorene; D000423:Alcian Blue