Promoting Regeneration Effect of Heparin Binding Epidermal Growth Factor-Like Growth Factor on Rat Hepatocytes after Partial Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Objective To evaluate the effect of heparin binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF)on liver regeneration after partial orthotopic liver transplantation.Methods Fourty SD rats were used to establish the model of partial orthotopic liver transplantation with ameliorated two-cuff technique.Then all the rats were divided into 2 groups:experiment group and control group.Twenty rats of experiment group were adminis- tered 500μg/kg HB-EGF via vena caudalis immediately after operation twice a day,while the same volume of saline was administered to the rats in control group.Five rats in each group were selected randomly and killed at the 6th hour,day 2,4 and 7 after operation,respectively.The serum levels of albumin(Alb)and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)in the blood sample were detected.Every liver was removed and weighed.The expression of Ki-67 was de- tected by using immunohistochemistry assay.The regeneration activity of hepatocytes was evaluated by flow cytom- etry.Results The wet weights of liver in experiment group were all significantly higher than that in control group at the 6th hour,day 2 and 4 after transplantation(P0.05).The serum levels of ALT were significantly lower in experiment group than those in control group at the 6th hour,day 2,4,7 after operation(P0.05),while the lev- els of Alb were significantly higher on day 4 and 7.The proliferating index and Ki-67 labeling index of graft in ex- periment group were higher than those in control group on day 2 and 4 after transplantation(2 d:P0.01;4 d: P0.05).Conclusion HB-EGF could promote the regeneration of rat hepatocytes after partial liver transplantation.