Significance of sonic hedgehog signaling after massive hepatectomy in a rat

To clarify the functional involvement of hedgehog signaling, especially sonic hedgehog (Shh) and glioma-associated oncogene (Gli)-1 which are known to play an important role in embryonic development and cancer, in the regeneration of a hepatectomized rat liver.

Six-week-old male Wistar rats were subjected to 70 or 90 % hepatectomy (Hx). Animals were killed at 24, 48 and 72 h after Hx. The liver/body weight ratio was measured as an index of regeneration. Formalin-fixed liver samples were embedded in paraffin, stained for immunohistochemistry with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) antibody, and the labeling index was calculated. Immunohistochemistry was also performed with Shh and Gli-1 antibodies.

The liver/body weight ratio gradually increased in both the 70 and 90 % Hx, groups. The hepatocytes were strongly stained for PCNA at 24 h after Hx. Non-parenchymal cells were gradually stained by PCNA from 24 to 72 h after Hx. Shh and Gli-1 expression in hepatocytes was higher after 24 h than at other times and then gradually decreased. Shh and Gli-1 expression in non-parenchymal cells increased gradually, and was found mainly in liver zone I at 72 h after 70 and 90 % Hx.

The expression of both markers suggested that Shh signaling contributes to tissue reconstruction after Hx.