Effect of Glucose Feeding on Regenerating Rat Liver Following Partial Hepatectomy.

Abstract

It has been reported that glucose feeding drastically potentiates the toxicity of several hepatotoxicants in rats. Accordingly, it was speculated that the potentiation mechanism involves the suppression of hepatocellular regeneration, i.e., the tissue healing process following initial damage. In this study, we quantitatively examined the effect of glucose feeding on hepatocellular regeneration following a partial hepatectomy (PH). Rats received a 15% glucose supplementation through drinking water for 7 days and control animals were supplied with tap water ad libitum. Following the glucose or tap water feeding, rats were subjected to a two-thirds PH. Glucose or tap water feeding was continued throughout the liver regenerative phase. On days 0, 1, 2, 4, and 7, serum and liver biochemical examinations, and measurements of liver weights, and immunohistochemical examinations on terminated animals, were conducted. The results demonstrated that liver weight gain was suppressed and the number of mitotic hepatocytes, an indicator of cell regeneration, was reduced by glucose feeding. These results support the speculation of hepatotoxicity potentiation by glucose feeding. Furthermore, changes of serum glucose and triglyceride levels, and hepatic glycogen and triglyceride contents were also observed in glucose-fed rats, indicating changes in glucose and triglyceride metabolism in the liver. However, the relationship between these biochemical changes and the suppression of liver regeneration remains to be clarified.