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Updated: Jul 31, 2026
05:37
Partial Lobular Hepatectomy: A Surgical Model for Morphologic Liver Regeneration
Published on: May 31, 2018
UDP-glucuronosyltransferase in the regenerating rat liver
A M Pellizzer1, S A Smid, S I Strasser
1Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
|December 1, 1996
Summary
Drug metabolism in liver disease shows impaired cytochrome P450 (CYP) activity but preserved UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activity. Hepatic regeneration after partial hepatectomy maintains total UGT protein levels while significantly reducing CYP2C11 protein.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Hepatology
- Drug Metabolism
Background:
- Drug elimination is impaired in liver disease, particularly for drugs metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes.
- UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes show relatively preserved drug elimination in liver disease.
- Hepatic regeneration is a factor in altered drug metabolism during liver injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of hepatic regeneration on drug-metabolizing enzymes, specifically CYP and UGT.
- To model the effects of regeneration on drug metabolism using partial hepatectomy in rats.
Main Methods:
- Partial hepatectomy or sham operation was performed on Sprague-Dawley rats.
- CYP (CYP2C11) and total UGT protein levels were assessed using immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting.
- Messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of UGT isoforms were analyzed by northern blot.
Main Results:
- CYP2C11 protein levels significantly decreased from day 2 to 6 post-hepatectomy.
- Total UGT protein levels remained unchanged after partial hepatectomy.
- UGT family 1 isoforms were initially depressed but then increased above control levels, while UGT2B1 and UGT2B3 mRNA showed differential regulation.
Conclusions:
- Hepatic regeneration preserves total UGT protein content but markedly reduces CYP2C11 protein.
- Individual UGT isoforms are differentially regulated during liver regeneration.
- These findings highlight distinct adaptive responses of drug-metabolizing enzymes during hepatic regeneration.
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