Esterase spectrum in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells of the regenerating liver

Abstract

The esterase spectrum in hepatocytes and Kuppfer cells of the regenerating rat liver was determined by electrophoresis in starch gel. The relative number of Kupffer cells, the percentage of phagocytic Kupffer cells, and the frequency of mitosis in the hepatocytes were determined. The esterase spectrum of hepatocytes isolated from the intact liver consisted of six zones, and that of the Kupffer cells of five zones of enzyme activity. The spectrum of the hepatocytes was “simplified” 2.5 h after partial hepatectomy, additional bands of activity appeared toward 9 h, and these persisted until 24 h after the operation. The original esterase spectrum was restored 48 h after the operation. A similar reorganization of the esterase spectrum was observed in the Kupffer cells but this was not fully restored 72 h after partial hepatectomy.