Liver regeneration following portacaval shunt in rats: 3',5'-cyclic AMP changes in plasma and liver tissue

Hepatic regeneration following portacaval shunt was evaluated in the light of the changes of 3',5'-cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels in plasma and liver tissue, and also plasma cAMP levels after glucagon administration, using a 70% hepatectomy and portacaval shunt model in rats. Ratios of liver to body weight recovered to 60% of pre-operative ratios 2 weeks after the operation. Plasma cAMP level decreased slightly, but insignificantly, 1 day and 3 days after the operation, then recovered to the pre-operative level. Hepatic cAMP concentration increased for 2 weeks after the operation. Plasma cAMP levels induced after glucagon administration did not increase until 3 days after the operation and were only 50% of pre-operative levels 4 weeks after the operation. From these results, liver regeneration following the portacaval shunt was remarkably delayed, but continued until at least 2 weeks after the operation.