title: Chronic stress does not impair liver regeneration in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although wound healing is a simple regenerative process that is critical after surgery, it has been shown to be impaired under psychological stress. The liver has a unique capacity to regenerate through highly complex mechanisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic stress, which may induce a depression-like state, on the complex process of liver regeneration in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty rats were included in this study. The animals received either a standard housing protocol or were subjected to a Chronic Mild Stress (CMS) stress paradigm. All rats underwent a 70 % partial hepatectomy (PHx). The animals were evaluated on postoperative day 2 or 4. Blood samples were collected to examine circulating markers of inflammation and liver cell damage. Additionally, liver tissues were sampled to evaluate liver weight and regeneration rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the animals died during the study. There were no differences between in body weight, liver weight, liver regeneration rate or biochemical markers at any time during the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that stress and the induction of depression-like state do not affect the process of liver regeneration after 70 % hepatectomy in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Gastroenterology L, Aarhus University Hospital, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kasper J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Gastroenterology L, Aarhus University Hospital, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anders R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine - Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ove
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Wiborg
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Gastroenterology L, Aarhus University Hospital, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Frank V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Mortensen
keywords: Chronic stress; Depression; Liver regeneration; Rats; Surgery