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The immunostimulant OK‐432 enhances liver regeneration after 90% hepatectomy in rats
Author(s) -
Kato Kazuya,
Matsuda Minoru,
Kusano Mitsuo,
Onodera Kazuhiko,
Kato Junji,
Kasai Shinichi,
Mito Michio,
Hodgson W. John B.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840190523
Subject(s) - mononuclear phagocyte system , liver regeneration , hepatectomy , bromodeoxyuridine , regeneration (biology) , medicine , hepatology , immunostimulant , endocrinology , immunology , andrology , biology , surgery , immunohistochemistry , immune system , resection , microbiology and biotechnology
Abstract The effect of reticuloendothelial system activation on liver regeneration after 90% hepatectomy was investigated. OK‐432, a killed streptococcal preparation that increases reticuloendothelial system activity, was administered to rats before 90% partial hepatectomy. Pretreated rats showed marked improvement in long‐term survival: 87% (18 of 23) survived beyond 42 hr, compared with only 44.2% (24 of 52) of controls (p<0.05). Survival was determined by means of life‐table analysis and regeneration response by means of bromodeoxyuridine labeling index of hepatic DNA. OK‐432 pretreatment had significantly increased bromodeoxyuridine labeling index 18, 24, and 42 hr after partial hepatectomy (p<0.05). The results indicate that reticuloendothelial system activation by OK‐432 before 90% partial hepatectomy enhances liver regeneration and improves survival, but these factors may not be related. The improved survival may be because of less infection in macrophage‐stimulated animals or more rapid clearance of hypotension‐causing vasoactive compounds. (H EPATOLOGY 1994;19:1241–1244.)