title: Acyclic retinoid NIK-333 accelerates liver regeneration and lowers serum transaminase activities in 70% partially hepatectomized rats, in vivo.
abstract: The effect of an acyclic synthetic retinoid analogue NIK-333, on the restoration of liver mass and recovery of liver function after 70% partial hepatectomy, was compared with natural retinoids in rats in vivo. NIK-333 (0.4 mg/kg/day, p.o.)- and all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA: 4 mg/kg/day, p.o.)-treated rats showed an approximately 1.3- and 1.2-fold increase in liver-to-body weight ratio, respectively, compared to solvent-administered control rats on day 3 after 70% partial hepatectomy. Accordingly, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeling index in the regenerating liver was significantly higher in NIK-333- and ATRA-treated rats compared with control rats on days 0.5 and 1. However, retinol (40 mg/kg/day, p.o.) did not significantly increase either the liver-to-body weight ratio or the BrdU labeling index. In control rats, liver-related serum transaminase activities such as alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, were rapidly elevated on day 1 and then decreased to near pre-operative levels on day 5 following 70% partial hepatectomy. NIK-333 significantly lowered serum transaminases on days 1 and 3 after 70% partial hepatectomy compared with solvent-administered control rats. The transaminase-lowering effect of NIK-333 was more effective than that of ATRA. Retinol did not significantly decrease serum transaminases compared with the control. These results demonstrate that of the three retinoids, NIK-333 was the most potent in promoting the regeneration of liver mass and function with full recovery after 70% partial hepatectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, Sakado City, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsutoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yanagida
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogihara
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D024443:Aspartate Aminotransferase, Cytoplasmic / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006498:Hepatectomy; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012176:Retinoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D012176:Retinoids; D014801:Vitamin A; C487689:(2E,4E,6E,10E)-3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2,4,6,10,14-hexadecapentaenoic acid; D014212:Tretinoin; D024443:Aspartate Aminotransferase, Cytoplasmic; D000637:Transaminases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase