No abstract

Objective: Extensive resection of the bowel, associated with hepatectomy, has been increasingly performed, so that to date there is controversy regarding the participation of proximal intestine on the liver regeneration. The study tested the hypothesis that the regulation of liver regeneration may be done separately by the jejunum. Methods: Eighteen Wistar rats were distributed into 3 groups, each with 6 rats: group 1, jejunectomy+hepatectomy; group 2, hepatectomy; group 3, sham. The rats were weighed before surgery and immediately before euthanasia that occurred on the 6th postoperative day, when their livers were weighted as well. Alanineaminotransferase (ALT), aspartate-aminotransferase (AST and alkaline phosphatase (ALP were measured. The calculation of liver regeneration was based on the liver weight / body mass ratio at the time of euthanasia and immediate postoperative period. Results: In group hepatectomy+jejunectomy ALT, AST and ALP were 182.4±23.7, 59.3±3.2 and 258.6±44.2 respectively , significantly higher than in the hepatectomy group, whose values were 124. 2±14.3; 43.7±3.5 and 166.3±8.3 respectively (p<0.001). Liver regeneration in the hepatectomy group was 93.18 ± 12.87 %, statistically higher (p<0.001) than in jejunectomy+hepatectomy group (53.84±11.32%). Conclusion: These data support the evidence that the jejunectomy negatively influenced liver regeneration.