title: The ileum as a determinant organ of the functional liver cell mass in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate if the ileum resection changes the functioning liver cell mass, the hepatic metabolism and the biodistribution of radiopharmaceutical in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve Wistar rats weighing 285g±34g were randomly divided into the ileum resection group (n = 6) and sham group rats (n = 6). After 30 days, they were anesthetized and 0.1mL of 99m-Tc-phytate (0.66MBq) was injected via femoral vein. After 30 minutes, blood samples were collected for red blood cells radioactive labeling and serum ALT, AST and gammaGT. Liver samples were used for 99m-Tc-phytate percentage of radioactivity/gram of tissue and histopathology. Student 's t test was used with significance 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a higher uptake of 99m-Tc-phytate in the liver of sham rats, compared to the ileum resection group (p<0.05). GammaGT, ALT and AST were increased in ileum resection rats compared to sham (p<0.05). The he patocytes count was significantly lower in ileum resection group than in sham (p<0.05). Liver: body mass ratio was lower in experimental animals than in sham group (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data support that the ileum has important role in liver function and liver mass regulation, and they have potential clinical implications regarding the pathogenesis of liver injury following lower bowel resection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, UFRN, Natal, Brazil. aldo@ufrnet.br
authors.forename: Aldo Cunha
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Alexandra Régia Dantas
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Brígido
authors.forename: Suyana Meneses
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Vanessa Ramalho
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: Keyla Borges Ferreira
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Cláudia Nunes
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D022781:Hepatocytes; D007082:Ileum / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010833:Phytic Acid; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C026177:technetium phytate; D010833:Phytic Acid; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase