Abstract:

The aim of this experimental study was to determine the effects of growth hormone on hepatic regeneration after partial hepatectomy. Thirty pathogen free Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups, each containing 10 rats. The animals were subjected to a sham operation in Group 1, and to left hepatic lobectomy in Groups 2 and 3. The animals in Groups 1 and 2 received saline solution (0.2 mg/kg/day), while growth hormone (Lilly Humotrope, Lilly France Usine de Fegersheim, France) (0.2 mg/kg/day) was given to the animals in Group 3 for seven days. On the seventh postoperative day, the animals were sacrificed and total hepatectomy was performed. The mitosis rate of the hepatocytes and Ki-67 monoclonal antibody positivity were determined. The animals in Group 3 exhibited a higher hepatocyte mitosis rate and greater Ki-67 monoclonal antibody positivity than the animals in Groups 1 and 2. It was concluded that the growth hormone had positive effects on hepatic regeneration.

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