[Characteristics of hepatocytes containing alpha-fetoprotein in regenerating mouse liver]

Induction of the synthesis of the embryo-specific protein--alpha-fetoprotein (alpha-FP) was revealed in the SWR mice of different age after one or several CCl4 treatments. The alpha-FP level elevation was the greatest in mice aged under one month. Morphologically in the liver regenerating after CCl4 poisoning the alpha-FP-containing hepatocytes failed to differ from the principal mass of cells, i.e. in the small cells of young animals and in the large hepatocytes of high ploidy in mice repeatedly poisoned with CCl4. The only feature specific for the alpha-FP-containing hepatocytes in the liver regenerating after CCl4 poisoning was their preponderant localization in the region adjacent to necrosis. Analgous localization of the alpha-FP-containing cells was found in the liver of mice poisoned with two other hepatotoxins--paracetamol and allyl alcohol.