The Effect of Testosterone in Partially Hepatectomized Female Rats

Abstract

The influence of Testosterone treatment on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy was investigated in female rats, treated with testosterone-3- (p-hexyloxiphenyl)-propionate, a long-acting testosterone preparation. The animals were killed 8 days after the operation. No influence of the hormone was observed on liver weight restoration. The treatment lowered the liver nitrogen concentration before as well as after the operation and the RNA concentration before the operation. It did not influence the postoperative decrease in serum albumin and alpha-1- globulin, but caused an increased concentration of alpha-2-globulin before the operation and of beta-2-globulin after the operation. There was thus no evidence of an anabolic effect of the testosterone administration on the liver.

Index-words:

• Liver
• rats
• nitrogen
• nucleic acids
• testosterone
• proteins
• electrophoresis
• hepatectomy