Microsomal hexobarbital metabolizing enzymes in regenerating cholestatic rat liver

Microsomal changes were studied in regenerating liver cholestatic rats by measuring hexobarbital metabolzing capacity (HMC) in vitro. Total extrahepatic biliary obstruction was induced by ligating the common duct, 3 days later, a 70% liver resection was performed. Sham-operated animals served as controls. Analysis of HMC showed a similar pattern of microsomal regeneration in cholestatic as in sham-operated rats. This indicates that in the rat, cholestasis per se does not interfere with the development of this enzyme system during regeneration.