Studies on Hepatocytotrophic Effects of the Factors Induced by Inoculation with Freeze-thawed Hepatic Tissue in Hepatectomized Rats and a Protective Effect Against CCl₄-induced Hepatic Damage

Makoto Takeuchi, Atsushi Watanabe, Takahito Adachi, Motohisa Kato, Shigetoyo Saji

Second Department of Surgery, Gifu University School of Medicine

We have investigated whether some kinds of hepatocyte growth factor are induced in rats by inoculation with freeze-thawed hepatic tissue (FTHT). In the present study, its hepatocytotrophic effects for 30% partial hepatectomized rats and its protective effect against CCl₄-induced hepatic damage were examined. The following results were obtained. 1) When FTHT was inoculated before 30% partial hepatectomy, the liver wet weight, DNA synthesis and liver regeneration were significantly higher than in the control rats without FTHT. 2) When FTHT was inoculated in rats with CCl₄-damaged livers, the levels of serum cytosolic enzyme activities (GOT, GPT, LDH) were significantly lower (p<0.01) than those in the control. 3) The mean serum HGF level was about 20 ng/ml two weeks after FTHT inoculation, and it was higher than that of the 30% partial hepatectomized rats (about 3 ng/ml). The above results suggest that inoculation of FTHT might induce some kinds of hepatocyte growth factor, and have protective activity against CCl₄-induced hepatic damage.

Key words
freeze-thawed hepatic tissue, hepatocyte growth factor, CCl₄-induced hepatic damage, hepatectomy, hepatocyte protective effects

Reprint requests
Makoto Takeuchi Second Department of Surgery, Gifu University, School of Medicine
40 Tsukasamachi, Gifu, 500-8705 JAPAN

Accepted
January 14, 1998

To read the PDF file you will need Abobe Reader installed on your computer.