Hepatocyte proliferation and apoptosis in rat liver after liver injury

In this paper the early phase of proliferate response and apoptosis of hepatocytes after partial liver resection, during reperfusion after ischemia and during sepsis is demonstrated.

Experiments were conducted in a rat model with regeneration times of 0.5-24 hours after injury. Proliferation was analyzed by Ki-67 immunohistochemistry and confirmed by double staining with CK18 in FACS. Apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL technique.

Periportal hepatocytes enter the cell cycle already 0.5-2 hours after injury in all three models. This early proliferative response is predominant periportally localized. During reperfusion and during sepsis there was a strict pericentral apoptosis of hepatocytes found.

An early periportal proliferation of hepatocytes is a common reaction of the liver to injury. This proliferation takes place much earlier then the main proliferative response 24-72 h after partial resection. This predominant periportal proliferation together with the pericentral apoptosis fit to the concept of the "streaming liver" in liver regeneration.