Background: Posthepatectomy liver insufficiency is one of the most serious problems associated with a major hepatic resection, especially in the cirrhotic liver, which has less functional reserve than the normal liver. Evaluation of morphologic liver regeneration is important in cirrhotic rats, as well as in the normal liver, and assessment of functional capacity in cirrhosis is clinically important for preventing hepatic insufficiency of the remnant liver after hepatectomy.
Methods: We evaluated the functional capacity of the cirrhotic liver induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats and studied the correlation between morphologic and functional restoration of the liver after partial hepatectomy in comparison with healthy rats. Morphologic restoration of the liver after hepatectomy was evaluated on the basis of remnant liver weight, proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index, and the DNA content of the regenerating liver. Functional restoration was evaluated by the indocyanine green disappearance rate and serum aminopyrine clearance.
Results: Morphologic restoration in cirrhotic rats was delayed in comparison with healthy rats. Although functional capacity in the cirrhotic rats was diminished, functional restoration was advanced after a two-thirds hepatectomy, in comparison with morphologic restoration.
Conclusions: Functional restoration in cirrhotic rats after partial hepatectomy is advanced in comparison with morphologic restoration.