[Effect of the administration of hepato stimulating substance in acute hepatic insufficiency]

The effect of hepatic stimulator substance (HSS) on liver regeneration was evaluated after 68% partial hepatectomy in the rat by measuring the incorporation of tritiated thymidine into regenerating hepatocytes. Moreover, a liver failure model was established by 98% hepatectomy and different schedules of HSS administration were followed for studying the effect of the substance on the survival of the treated rats. A 40% survival was observed one week after hepatectomy, in the group of rats administered with the highest dosage of HSS (n = 10), as compared to a survival value of 13% in the control group (n = 15). Thus, hepatotrophic and hepatostimulating substances contained in HSS, could play a therapeutic role in experimental, and possibly clinical, acute liver failure.