Diethylnitrosamine induced enzyme altered areas in the rat liver: effect of partial hepatectomy.

The effect of partial hepatectomy on the growth of enzyme-altered areas, induced in male albino Wistar rats by giving them diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in their drinking water, was studied. This was performed morphometrically by means of light microscopy and enzyme histochemistry. The results showed that the enzyme-altered areas increased significantly in size for two weeks following the partial hepatectomy but not thereafter. This finding suggested that DEN induced enzyme-altered areas can respond to a proliferative stimulus, but the response appeared transient.