Alterations in hepatic lobar function in regenerating rat liver

Background: Ligation of a branch of the portal vein redirects portal blood to nonligated lobes resulting in lobar hypertrophy. Although the effect of portal vein ligation on liver volume is well documented, the parallel alterations in liver function are still the subject of controversy. Our aim was to assess the time-dependent reactions of regional hepatic function to portal vein ligation by selective biliary drainage.

Methods: Male Wistar rats (n = 44) underwent 80% portal vein ligation. Before the operation as well as 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 d after circulation, morphology and function (laboratory blood test; hepatic bile flow; plasma disappearance rate of indocyanine green; and biliary indocyanine green excretion) of the liver were examined.

Results: Although portal vein ligation affected liver circulation and morphology to a great extent, serum albumin levels, bilirubin levels, and total hepatic bile flow did not change significantly after the operation. Nevertheless, plasma disappearance rate and biliary indocyanine green excretion indicated a temporary impairment of total liver function with the lowest value on the second day and normalization by the fifth day. Bile production and biliary indocyanine green excretion of ligated lobes decreased rapidly after the operation and remained persistently suppressed, whereas the secretory function of nonligated lobes--after a temporary decline--showed a greater increase than the weight of the lobes.

Conclusions: Portal vein ligation induced temporary impairment of total liver function, followed by rapid recovery mainly by reason of increase in the function of nonligated lobes. Functional increase in nonligated lobes was more pronounced than suggested by the degree of volume gain.