Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2025
Isolation of Regenerating Hepatocytes after Partial Hepatectomy in Mice
Published on: December 2, 2022
Exploring the dynamics of postoperative steatosis in the regenerating liver: An animal study
Andrea Lund1,2, Katrine Holm Andersen1,2, Kasper Jarlhelt Andersen1
1Department of Surgery, Section for HPB Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Introduction:
The rat model of 70 % partial hepatectomy (PH) is commonly used to investigate liver regeneration processes. The aim of this study was to explore the dynamics of hepatic lipid accumulation and its correlation with the proliferation response during the entire regeneration phase after 70 % PH in rats.
Methods:
Sixty-four rats underwent 70 % PH and were randomly divided into eight groups for evaluation on post-operative day (POD) 1 to 8. Hepatocyte volume, relative lipid content, and lipid volume per hepatocyte were assessed by stereological analysis.Results: Lipid volume per hepatocyte reached its peak on POD 1 and POD 2, with mean values of 2895 μm3 (95 % CI: 1756-4034 μm3) and 3090 μm3 (95 % CI: 2277-3903 μm3), respectively. A marked decline was observed by POD 4, with a mean of 1323 μm3 (95 % CI: 985-1741 μm3), which continued through POD 5, reaching 619 μm3 (95 % CI: 136-1102 μm3). From POD 5 onwards, lipid volume remained consistently low, with no significant differences detected between POD 5 and POD 8.
Conclusion:
Lipid accumulation and proliferation peak and decline concurrently, suggesting a strong correlation.
