Effect of liver hydrolysate on hepatic proliferation in regenerating rat liver

Abstract

The effect of liver hydrolysate (LH) derived from bovine liver on rat liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PH) were investigated. Oral administration of LH increased rat liver weight dose-dependently at 24 h after PH. Hepatic ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling index were measured in regenerating rat liver as markers of cell proliferation. ODC activities at 4 and 24 h after PH were significantly increased by LH administration. PCNA labeling index at 24 h after PH were also increased by LH administration. These results suggest that LH stimulates liver regeneration in partially hepatectomized rats.