[The effects of protein and amino acids on DNA synthesis in regenerating liver]

In order to estimate the effects of protein and amino acids on regenerating liver, the induction of enzymes involved in synthesis of DNA was studied in rats fed protein free diet. In the regenerating livers of rats of the protein free diet, increase of liver weight and DNA content were stopped 48 hours after hepatectomy, and induction of DNA synthesizing enzymes such as dCMP deaminase, ribonucleotide reductase, and thymidine kinase were depressed and shortened. On the other hand, induction of protein or RNA synthesizing enzymes such as polyamine, ornithine decarboxylase, and tyrosine aminotransferase were not depressed by protein deprivation. The results indicate that protein deprivation inhibits the DNA synthesizing enzymes specifically, and regenerating liver cells can not enter S phase of cell cycle. When rats were maintained solely by total parenteral nutrition after hepatectomy, amino acids were essential for induction of DNA synthesizing enzymes. In particular, induction of these enzymes were regulated by 7 amino acids include Val, Leu, Ile, Met, Trp, Phe, and Thr, and most of these plasma amino acid levels were depressed after hepatectomy. By administration of amino acids for 12 hours just after hepatectomy, the DNA synthesizing enzymes were almost normally induced. This suggests that amino acids administration just after hepatectomy is effective to induce the DNA synthesizing enzymes for hepatic regeneration.