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Exogenous Thyroid Hormone Induces Liver Enlargement, Whilst Maintaining Regenerative Potential—A Study Relevant to Donor Preconditioning
Author(s) -
Malik Raza,
Habib Mohammed,
Tootle Rosemary,
Hodgson Humphrey
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2005.00949.x
Subject(s) - medicine , context (archaeology) , endocrinology , hepatectomy , hormone , thyroid , transplantation , liver regeneration , hyperplasia , liver cell , liver transplantation , urology , regeneration (biology) , surgery , biology , resection , paleontology , microbiology and biotechnology
We have investigated thyroid hormone‐ (T 3 ) induced liver cell hyperplasia in rats to explore the potential utility of primary mitogens within the clinical context of donor conditioning prior to living‐related transplantation. A single injection of T 3 induced a semi‐synchronized proliferative response in hepatocytes, resulting at 10 days in a peak increase in liver mass, liver/body mass ratio, total DNA and total protein. Importantly, the hyperplastic liver induced by T 3 exhibits a commensurate increase in metabolic capacity, as assessed by enhanced galactose elimination capacity. Furthermore, when the liver mass had been increased by an injection of T 3 given 10 days previously and 70% partial hepatectomy performed, there was a larger remnant liver mass, liver/body mass ratio, total DNA and total protein content 24 h after surgery, compared with animals given a control injection. Interestingly, the regenerative response to surgery was the same in both groups, indicating that prior T 3 conditioning did not impair the regenerative response of the liver. Using more stringent conditions to test hepatic functional reserve, following 90% hepatectomy, there was a greater (57%) survival in animals pre‐treated with T 3 compared to 14% in controls.