Hepatocyte proliferation and alpha 1-fetoprotein in pregnant, neonatal, and partially hepatectomized rats.

Abstract

Serum α1-fetoprotein concentrations of pregnant and newborn rats and of rats following partial hepatectomy have been measured by radioimmunoassay, and the results have been correlated to the numbers of hepatocytes synthesizing DNA. Rising concentrations follow rounds of hepatocellular proliferation indicating that the production of α1-fetoprotein is closely coupled to cellular division, i.e. , either α1-fetoprotein is synthesized transiently and released by a postmitotic cell or it is synthesized prior to mitosis and released after mitosis.