title: Telocytes in pregnancy-induced physiological liver growth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We previously documented the presence of Telocytes (TCs) in liver and further indicated the potential roles of TCs in liver regeneration after hepatectomy. Pregnancy-induced liver growth, other than liver regeneration after hepatectomy, is a physiological hepatic adaption to meet the enhanced nutritional and metabolic demands. However, the possible roles of TCs in pregnancy-induced liver growth remain unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant mice were sacrificed at different time points (pregnancy day 0.5, 4.5, 8.5, 10.5, 12.5, 14.5, 16.5, and 18.5). The liver weight was used to evaluate the liver growth during pregnancy. Hepatocytes proliferation was determined by albumin and 5-ethynyl-2'- deoxyuridine (EdU) double immunostaining while TCs were counted by double immunolabeling for CD34/PDGFR-α.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pregnancy-induced liver growth was preceded by increased proliferation of hepatocytes at pregnancy day 4.5, 8.5, 14.5 and 16.5. Furthermore, the number of TCs in liver detected by double immunolabeling for CD34/PDGFR-α was significantly increased at pregnancy day 4.5 and day 14.5, that was coincident with the occurrence of two peaks of hepatic cell proliferation during pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest a possible relationship between TCs and hepatocyte proliferation in pregnancy-induced liver growth.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Digestive Disease Institute, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yihua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bei
authors.forename: Yingying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Junjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Changqing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D000067170:Telocytes / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha