The effect of amrinone on liver regeneration in experimental hepatic resection model

The phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDEIs) have been proposed to improve hepatic reperfusion injury and hepatosplanchnic circulation, but the effects of these agents on liver regeneration have not been investigated thoroughly. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of amrinone, a PDEI, on liver regeneration in rats.

Sixty rats were divided into two groups, control and amrinone. Each group was then divided into three groups (n=10). An infusion of amrinone to the study group and of 0.9% NaCl to the control group was performed. Seventy percent liver resection was performed to the rats during the first hour of infusion. The infusion was maintained for 17 h after resection. A total of 18 h infusion was performed. Rats were allowed to survive for 24, 48, and 72 h, and then they were sacrificed. Biochemical, morphological, hematological, and histopathologic measurements and assessments were performed.

There were statistically significant differences between the amrinone and control groups in alkaline phosphatase and relative liver weights at 24, 48, and 72 h (P<0.05). There also were statistically significant differences between the groups in AST, bilirubin, and albumine levels at 24 h, ALT and prothrombine time levels at 48 h, and aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels at 72 h (P<0.05). Hepatic ATP levels, mitotic index, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index were significantly higher in amrinone group compared with control group at all three time intervals (P<0.05).

Amrinone improves both morphological and functional liver regeneration after liver resection.