Leberregeneration nach Steroidgabe bei partieller Hepatektomie im Rattenmodell

if temporary inflow occlusion is required during liver resection, the postoperative course might be complicated by ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Steroids have shown to protect against hepatic IR injury, however, due to its anti-proliferative character concerns exist on its use on liver regeneration after resection. Using an experimental model, we investigated the effects of methylprednis-olone (MP) on hepatocyte proliferation after partial hepatectomy with temporary inflow occlusion. Prior to partial (70%) hepatectomy, one group of animals received MP (30 mg/kgBW), while the second group served as non-treated controls. During surgery, total vascular inflow occlusion was performed by cross clamping the hepatoduodenal ligament (30 minutes). The degree of IR injury was indicated by the postischemic rise of AST, ALT, and GLDH at 6 hours following surgery. Immunohistology (Ki-67) and Western blot analysis (cyclin Dl) characterized the proliferative activity on day 1,4,7, and 10 after resection. Additionally, the body weight, the weight of the proliferating liver, and as a measure of liver function, bilirubin secretion and albumin synthesis were analyzed. The postischemic enzyme release at 6 hours following surgery was significantly decreased in the MP-group. Expression of cyclin D 1 and the percentage of Ki-67 positive cells were similar in both groups at all time points. Similar results were found for serum bilirubin and for weight of the remnant proliferating liver, indicating that steroid treatment given to reduce IR injury does not interfere with postoperative hepatocyte proliferation.