Further Studies on the Effect of Testosterone on Liver Healing after Partial Hepatectomy in Male Rats

Abstract

The influence of testosterone treatment on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy was investigated in male rats treated with testosterone-3-(p-hexyloxiphenyl)-propionate. The animals were killed 8 and 14 days after the operation. No influence of the hormone was observed on liver weight restoration or liver DNA and RN A concentration. The liver nitrogen concentration was higher in the testosterone-treated animals than in the controls 8 days after the operation but no difference existed between the groups in total liver nitrogen/100 g body weight. The postoperative decrease in serum albumin concentration was further accentuated in the testosterone-treated animals, whereas the decrease in alpha₁-globulin was less pronounced than in the controls. There was thus no evidence of an anabolic effect of the testosterone administration on the liver.

Index-words::

• Liver
• rats
• nucleic acids
• testosterone
• serum albumin
• hepatectomy
• liver regeneration