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Updated: Aug 29, 2026
Visualization of Vascular and Parenchymal Regeneration after 70% Partial Hepatectomy in Normal Mice
Published on: September 13, 2016
Effect of vascular endothelial growth factor on functional recovery after hepatectomy in lean and obese mice
Claudio A Redaelli1, David Semela, Francine E Carrick
1Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Background/Aims:
Liver regeneration is dependent upon coordinated proliferation of hepatocytes and endothelial cells. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes angiogenesis. Hepatic steatosis delays regeneration and increases liver resection morbidity. We hypothesized that VEGF overexpression stimulates hepatic regeneration.
Methods:
Recombinant adenovirus expressing human VEGF165 or adenovirus control-vector (LacZ) were administered before 2/3 hepatectomy in lean and ob/ob mice. Galactose elimination capacity, a quantitative liver function test, was repeatedly measured before and after hepatectomy. Expression of VEGF receptors (flt1, flk1), endoglin and hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) was assessed by quantitative RT-PCR and for endoglin also by immunohistochemistry.
Results:
After 2/3 hepatectomy, VEGF gene transfer increased galactose elimination capacity in lean and ob/ob mice. HIF-1alpha, endoglin and VEGF receptor mRNA increased during regeneration in lean but not in obese mice. Staining of endothelial cells by endoglin immunohistochemistry returned to baseline reactivity in lean mice by day 6 and remained decreased in ob/ob mice. VEGF treatment decreased HIF-1alpha and increased flk1 response in lean mice.
Conclusions:
Hepatic resection elicits an angiogenic response in the remnant liver, which is impaired in case of steatosis. Adenovirus-mediated transfer of VEGF hastens functional hepatic recovery in lean, and more importantly also, in obese mice after partial hepatectomy.
