Effect of thrombopoietin on platelet counts and liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in a rat model.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the effects of thrombopoietin (TPO) on platelet counts and liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in rats.


METHODS
We performed 70% partial hepatectomy on 60 rats given either TPO or a vehicle (controls). The rats were killed 6 h, 24 h, 72 h, or 168 h after the procedure, and we examined the platelet counts, weight of the regenerated liver, hepatocyte proliferation by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling index, and expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mRNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
In the controls, the platelet counts were significantly lower than the basal levels, by about 20%, at 6, 24, and 72 h; then recovered to the basal level at 168 h. Conversely, in the TPO-treated rats, the platelet counts increased significantly by 17%, 35%, and 60%, at 24, 72, and 168 h, respectively. The regenerated liver regained 80% of the pre-hepatectomy weight by 72 h in the controls, whereas reconstitution of the liver was accomplished by 72 h in the TPO-treated rats. Thrombopoietin significantly enhanced the BrdU labeling index of hepatocytes and expression of HGF mRNA 24 h post hepatectomy in TPO-treated rats versus controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Thrombopoietin increased platelet counts; thereby accelerating liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy with enhanced induction of HGF.
Shimabukuro
Rinshun
R
Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
Kawanaka
Hirofumi
H
Tomikawa
Morimasa
M
Akahoshi
Tomohiko
T
Konishi
Kozo
K
Yoshida
Daisuke
D
Anegawa
Go
G
Uehara
Hideo
H
Hashimoto
Naotaka
N
Hashizume
Makoto
M
Maehara
Yoshihiko
Y
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count; D011336:Probability; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012016:Reference Values; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D013926:Thrombopoietin