Effect of acute ethanol administration upon hepatic regeneration.

Abstract

Abstract The effect of ethanol administration upon hepatic parenchymal cell regeneration was studied in rats in which regeneration of the liver was stimulated by a 68% hepatectomy. Ethanol, 2.67 gm/kg in 3 daily doses, inhibited 3 H-TdR incorporation into hepatic DNA 18 to 48 hr following partial hepatic resection. Peak 3 H-DNA specific activity in control animals 24 hr after resection was inhibited over 90% by ethanol administration. Ethanol impaired 3 H-DNA labeling when given in the preparative phase for DNA synthesis. When hepatic ethanol metabolism was suppressed by pyrazole, 3 H-DNA labeling was still inhibited. On the other hand, hepatic weight was significantly increased in ethanol-fed rats 72 to 96 hr after resection, and total hepatic DNA content after ethanol was no less than that of controls. Ethanol administration accentuated the parenchymal TG accumulation that occurs during regeneration and increased total hepatic protein content. It is concluded that acute ethanol administration does not impair the regenerative response of the partially resected rat liver. Suppression of 3 H-TdR incorporation into hepatic DNA during ethanol feeding was not due to changes in intrahepatic concentration and distribution of the labeled thymidine nor to increased metabolism of thymine. Studies of the effect of agents upon liver regeneration, using the partial hepatectomy rat model, should include measurement of the hepatic content of DNA and other components in addition to the determination of 3 H-TdR incorporation into hepatic DNA.