Albumin messenger RNA after partial hepatectomy and sham operation.

Albumin mRNA was quantified in nuclear RNA and in polysomal and post-polysomal poly(A)-containing RNA from untreated, hepatectomized and laparotomized rat livers. A prominent reduction of albumin-specific RNA sequences was observed in all subcellular fractions 50 h after partial hepatectomy, compared to both untreated and sham-operated livers. Surprisingly, laparotomy itself also induced a dilution of albumin-specific sequences at earlier times after operation in nuclei and in post-polysomal supernatant, but not in polysomes.