Changes of serum and urinary neopterin concentrations in rats after partial hepatectomy.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the changes in serum and urinary neopterin concentrations over time after partial hepatectomy in rats, and to find out if neopterin can be used as a marker of immunological response during the regulation of liver regeneration.

DESIGN

Randomised experiment.

SETTING

University hospital, Taiwan, R.O.C.

SUBJECTS

84 male Wistar rats weighing about 200g.

INTERVENTIONS

Partial hepatectomy (67%) or sham operation (n = 42 in each group).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Serum and urinary neopterin concentrations measured by radioimmunoassay preoperatively and on days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 postoperatively.

RESULTS

Serum neopterin concentrations increased and reached their peak on days 5 and 7 after partial hepatectomy. The urinary neopterin concentration showed a similar trend, but with a more pronounced increase on days 5 and 7.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum and urinary neopterin concentrations can be used as markers of activated cell-mediated immunity in rats after partial hepatectomy.