The role of the spleen, especially regarding changes in both thromboxane A2 and the remnant liver dysfunction after extensive hepatectomy.

The plasma levels of thromboxane B2 (TxB2) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha (6-KF) in the peripheral and portal blood increase after an extensive hepatectomy, and even more so in cases with complications. In this cell biological study, we estimated the prostanoids in the portal system to clarify which organ produces them, while also evaluating the effect of a splenectomy in conjunction with an extensive hepatectomy. Our results showed that the level of TxB2 in the splenic vein was significantly higher than that in the mesenteric vein. Furthermore, the TxA2 produced by splenic macrophages after an extensive hepatectomy was significantly more than after a sham operation. We also observed the hepatocyte damage to be less in the group that underwent an 84% hepatectomy and splenectomy than in the group that underwent the same hepatectomy without a splenectomy. It therefore appears important both to suppress the splenic macrophages from producing TxA2 and to prevent remnant hepatic dysfunction after an extensive hepatectomy.