The response of the rat liver to alterations in total portal blood flow.

Abstract In attempting to isolate the various components involved in the stimulus induced by partial hepatectomy, the effect of sudden increased portal flow to the whole liver has been studied. The technique involved the construction of a portacaval anastomosis and after a week, reconstitution of the original portal vein, allowing resumption of portal blood flow. The effects of increased portal flow in this experiment were to induce hypertrophy of hepatocytes and a minor degree of DNA synthesis.