Intraarterial and Intraportal in vivo Catheterization of the Regenerating Rat Liver

Effects upon body and liver weights and DNA synthesis

Abstract

A method for concomitant partial hepatectomy and catheterization of the arterial and portal systems of the liver in the rat is described. Catheters were inserted into the gastroduodenal artery and the ileocolic vein. Continuous saline perfusion was performed during 36 hours. In catheterized rats recovery of liver and body weight lagged behind that of non-catheterized rats. The more extensive surgery and the presence of catheters also caused decreased incorporation of ³H-thymidine into liver DNA 24 hours postoperatively. The variation in thymidine incorporation between animals was large. It was shown that by prelabelling liver DNA with ¹⁴C-thymidine the rats can serve as their own controls during acute experiments involving ³H-thymidine, thus reducing the inconsistancy of individual variation.