Effects of tacrolimus on liver regeneration after reduced-size liver transplantation in rats

Objective:To study the effects of tacrolimus on liver regeneration after an isogeneic orthotopic reduced-size hepatic transplantation in rats. Methods: Wistar rats, weighing 300-350 g, were subjected to 65% partial hepatic transplantation. Group A had no further treatment; group B and group C received tacrolimus(0. 1 and 0. 05 mg · kg-1 · d-1 respectively) through intramuscular injection from 3 d before the operation until the animals were killed 24, 48, 72, and 120 h after surgery. Blood samples were taken for measurements of plasma ALT and TB. Liver biopsies were analyzed for determination of mitotic index. Results: Tacrolimus significantly augmented proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling index and mitotic index of hepatocytes after transplantation(P0. 05,P0. 01), and reached their peak 48 h after transplantation. The increase of PCNA labeling index in group B was greater than that in group C 48 h after operation(P0. 05). No significant differences of serum ALT and TB levels were observed between group B and group C. Conclusion : Tacrolimus can dose-de pendantly augment liver regeneration after reduced-size hepatic transplantation in rats with low hepatotoxicity.