Urakawa T, Kumagai K, Nagahata Y, Matsui S, Azumi Y, Itoh A, Saitoh Y
Nihon Geka Gakkai Zasshi. 1987 May;88(5):577-83.
Possible effects of vagotomy (a means of preventing stress ulcers after partial hepatectomy in cirrhotic liver) on liver regeneration were explored. Cirrhosis was induced in rats by means of intraperitoneally administering 4% thioacetamide for 10 consecutive weeks. These rats were subjected to partial hepatectomy (ca. 68% resection) and vagotomy at the same time. Normal rats of consistent age served as controls after receiving hepatectomy. In controls, which received hepatectomy alone, both gastric pH and gastric wall blood flow showed a significant reduction on the third day after surgery. In animals which received both hepatectomy and vagotomy, postoperative reduction in gastric pH was suppressed, but postoperative reduction in gastric wall blood flow was more marked compared to those of controls. In animals which received both hepatectomy and vagotomy, postoperative 3H-thymidine intake and thymidine kinase activity were markedly suppressed compared to controls. In animals which received both hepatectomy and vagotomy, the peak level of mitotic index and the hepatic regeneration rate were markedly suppressed compared to those of controls. The above results indicate that vagotomy is not advantageous to liver regeneration and prevention of stress ulcer after partial hepatectomy in cirrhotic rat because of its potency of inducing marked reduction in gastric wall blood flow and impediment of liver regeneration.
