The effects of pentoxifylline on liver regeneration after portal vein ligation in rats.

AIM

To determine the effects of pentoxifylline, a methyl xanthine derivative on hepatic cell production of uninterferred lobe after portal vein branch ligation.

METHODS

Sixty-six rats were randomly allocated into 9 groups with 8 rats in PVL groups and 6 rats in sham operation groups. The portal branches of the median and the lateral liver lobes, corresponding to approximately 70% of the liver volume were ligated in the PVL groups. The control group received 0.9% NaCl solution. The rats in the treatment groups received pentoxifylline at the dose of 50 mg/kg/dy. After 1, 2, 4 days of portal vein ligation in both PVL and PVNL lobes the levels of adenine nucleotides were determined and flowcytometric analysis of cell cycles were performed.

RESULTS

On the first day of portal branch ligation energy charge was significantly lower, in pentoxifylline treated group comparing to pentoxifylline untreated group, both in PVL and PVNL lobes (P<0.05). Proliferative indexes were 0.38 and 0.29 in pentoxifylline treated and pentoxifylline untreated PVNL lobes respectively (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Pentoxifylline treatment resulted in an increase of percentage of calls entering mitosis phase on the first day after PVL, somehow accelerating the regeneration process.