Lack of effect of portacaval shunt on ornithine decarboxylase activity in regenerating rat liver.

The influence of the end to side portacaval shunt on the level of activity of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase following partial hepatectomy was investigated. A sharp rise in the enzyme level was found in both the shunted animals and in the normal controls. The chronology of the increase in enzymic activity was somewhat altered in the portacaval shunted animals, but both groups had similar peak values. The rate of cell division was also found to be unaffected. This report finds no evidence of support for the reported inhibition by the portacaval shunt of the increase in ornithine decarboxylase following partial hepatectomy.