Hepatic expression and serum levels of thrombomodulin reflect the extent of liver injury in rats with fulminant hepatic failure and extensive hepatectomy

Abstract In order to evaluate the biological significance of thrombomodulin (TM) in the serum and its expression in the liver, changes in TM were investigated in rats with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) or after extensive hepatectomy. Forty-two rats were divided into four groups as follows: control (sham, n =6), 70% hepatectomy (70% Hx, n =12), 90% hepatectomy (90% Hx, n =12) and fulminant hepatic failure (FHF, n =12). The soluble-TM levels in the 90% Hx and FHF groups were significantly higher than that in the 70% Hx group. In the FHF group, the soluble-TM level 24 h after induction was significantly higher than that at 12 h ( P