Fluctuation of pancreatic peptide hormones in total-hepatectomy model in the rat

• Published in: Research in experimental medicine Vol. 193; no. 6; p. 419
• Main Author: Nakamura, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.12.1993
• Subjects: Animals; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Glucagon - blood; Glucose - administration & dosage; Hepatectomy - methods; Infusion Pumps; Insulin - blood; Liver Regeneration - physiology; Male; Models, Biological; Pancreas - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Somatostatin - blood
• ISSN: 0300-9130
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02576250

A single-stage total-hepatectomy model in the rat is described. This model was successful in simulating the anhepatic phase for at least 4 h, with continuous intravenous glucose infusion. Advantages of the technique used for total hepatectomy in this study include ease of production, and resolution of problems encountered in previous models such as embolism and high postoperative mortality. This model was employed to observe fluctuation of pancreatic peptide hormones and glucose clearance during the anhepatic phase. Plasma insulin levels in portal blood did not vary for 120 min after removal of the liver. However, transient glucagon hypersecretion and depression in reactive secretion of somatostatin were observed during the anhepatic phase. These observations led to the following conclusions: (1) the liver seems to play an important role in regulating correlations between pancreatic peptide hormones by being part of a feedback system, and (2) hypersecretion of glucagon in the early anhepatic phase may be the initial signal for liver regeneration in the totally hepatectomized rat.