Effects of biliary obstruction on hepatic deoxyribonucleic acid and protein synthesis after partial hepatectomy

Major hepatectomy for biliary malignancy associated with biliary obstruction is often complicated due to hepatic failure. To determine the effects of biliary obstruction on liver regeneration, hepatic deoxyribonucleic acid and protein synthesis after partial hepatectomy was studied in rats with pre-operative biliary obstruction.

After 5 or 14 days of biliary obstruction, experimental rats underwent concurrent biliary decompression and 70% partial hepatectomy. Control rats underwent partial hepatectomy alone. Hepatic deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis was determined 24 hours after partial hepatectomy. Hepatocellular protein synthesis and secretory protein synthesis were determined at baseline and 48 hours after partial hepatectomy.

Deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis was significantly depressed in rats with biliary obstruction compared with controls (p < 0.05). Baseline hepatocellular protein synthesis and secretory protein synthesis, especially secretory protein synthesis, increased in proportion to the duration of biliary obstruction (p < 0.01). After partial hepatectomy, control rats showed marked increases in hepatocellular protein synthesis and secretory protein synthesis (p < 0.01). Increased baseline hepatocellular protein synthesis and secretory protein synthesis were preserved in the regenerating liver of rats with biliary obstruction.

The results suggest that biliary obstruction gives priority to secretory protein synthesis over DNA synthesis which may inhibit liver regeneration.