[An experimental study on the role of pancreatic hormones in the regeneration of the canine liver].

The role of pancreatic hormones on hepatic regeneration after partial hepatectomy was studied in dogs with a new portal blood flow diversion which did not use vein graft. Right lobe of the liver received blood from the pancreas, stomach, duodenum and spleen, whereas the left lobe received blood from the intestine. Venous anastomoses were patent in 70% of survival animals for 12 weeks. Right lobe of the liver, from which 10% of the whole liver weight was removed, revealed rapid accumulation of glycogen and weight in the early stage of regeneration but failed to show sufficient removal of indocyanine green (ICG). On the other hand, left lobe, from which 40% of the liver was removed, revealed a slow and steady regenerative process and maintained efficient ICG removal throughout the study. The results revealed that endogenous pancreatic hormones could be a transient stimulating factor in the early stage of hepatic regeneration but do not require supplementation.