Activity of alkaline phosphatase in the healing rat liver after hepatectomy.

Changes of alkaline phosphatase activity in the process of healing liver injuries of rats on which partial hepatectomy was performed were the subject of our researches. Reaction on alkaline phosphatase was performed on cryostat sections according to the method of Gomori-Takamatsu. It has been found that granulated precipitate of cobalt sulphide was localized in the cytoplasm of granulocytes, macrophages and fibroblasts. A diffusive reaction comprized clusters of newly created collagen fibres. In early stages in the centres of necrosis, the activity of alkaline phosphatase increased, in later periods a lack of the activity was observed. Steatosis of liver tissue does not correlate with the intensity of the reaction. Lack of alkaline phosphatase activity is characteristic for old cicatrices. The authors discuss the effects of the histogenetical process during healing of liver injury on the results of the histoenzymatic reactions. The authors suggest that alkaline phosphatase is involved in the mechanism of re-building collagen fibres. It is stressed in the conclusion that the localization and intensity of alkaline phosphatase in the area of healing liver lesions are variable depending on the period of healing wound of the liver and the influence of other complications.