Xanthine oxidase activity in regenerating liver

The xanthine oxidase activity of mouse regenerating liver has been shown to be elevated during the period of rapid liver growth and proliferation. This increase is evident when the enzyme activity is expressed per unit wet tissue weight, per unit nitrogen, or per cell. The adrenal cortex probably plays only a minor role in implementing this phenomenon. Further augmentation of the xanthine oxidase level of regenerating liver is not induced by the administration of large quantities of the substrate, xanthine, to the animal.     

Sialyltransferase activity in regenerating rat liver

Liver microsomal fractions catalyse the transfer of sialic acid from CMP-N-acetyl-neuraminic acid to various exogenous acceptors such as desialylated fetuin, desialylated human Tamm–Horsfall glycoprotein and desialylated bovine submaxillary-gland mucin. An increase in the rate of incorporation of sialic acid into desialylated glycoproteins was found after a lag period (7h) in regenerating liver. The increase was maximum 24h after partial hepatectomy for all acceptors tested. At later times after operation the sialyltransferase activity remained high only for desialylated fetuin. No soluble factors from liver or serum of partially hepatectomized animals influenced the activity of the sialyltransferases bound to the microsomal fraction. The sensitivity of sialyltransferases to activation by Triton X-100, added to the incubation medium, was unchanged in the microsomal preparation from animals 24h after sham operation or partial hepatectomy. The full activity of sialyltransferases towards the various desialylated acceptors showed some differences. Human Tamm–Horsfall glycoprotein was a good acceptor of sialic acid only when desialylated by mild acid hydrolysis. After this treatment, but not after enzymic hydrolysis, a decrease in molecular weight of human Tamm–Horsfall glycoprotein was observed. Further, the sialyltransferase activity as a function of incubation temperature gave different curves according to the acceptor used. The relationship between the biosynthesis of glycoproteins by regenerating liver and the sialyltransferase activity of microsomal fraction after partial hepatectomy is discussed.     

Nuclear and cytoplasmic RNase-activity in regenerating mouse liver

Nuclear and cytoplasmic RNase activities at pH 5.0 and 7.6 were analyzed in regenerating mouse liver at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after partial hepatectomy. Two different nucleus-isolation methods were used, one in a EDTA-spermidine medium free from divalent cations, and one in a sucrose medium containing these ions. During regeneration, the cytoplasmic alkaline RNase activity in the sucrose medium was unchanged, but in the spermidine medium showed an increase toward the end of the period. Also the cytoplasmic acid RNase activity was unchanged in sucrose medium, whereas in the spermidine it slightly increased during regeneration. The nuclear alkaline RNase activity showed a notable peak 6 h after the operation and later decreased. Also the nuclear acid RNase activity displayed a similar marked peak 6 h after operation, then decreased, but remained high throughout the period. The nuclear RNase activities were about 1% of the corresponding cytoplasmic RNase activities. The absolute activities varied greatly according to the nucleus-isolation methods. In the controls, the absolute activity of nuclear alkaline RNase was slightly above (1.2 times) that of the corresponding acid activity after the spermidine method. After the sucrose method the nuclear alkaline activity was 2.7 times that of the acid activity. The absoluted activity of cytoplasmic alkaline RNase was slightly above (1.2 times) the acid activity after the spermidine method but after the sucrose method it was only 0.25 times that of the acid activity. In sham-operated animals, cytoplasmic acid and alkaline RNase activities generally were fairly similar to the normal value, but corresponding nuclear activities showed marked variations indicating an influence by anesthesia.     

Cytoskeletal reorganization in hepatocytes of the regenerating mouse liver

The intracellular pattern of prekeratin and actin filaments has been studied on sections of mouse livers regenerating after CCl4 injury. Monoclonal antibodies against one of liver prekeratins and monospecific polyclonal actin antibodies were used in the indirect immunofluorescent test. The presence of alpha-fetoprotein and bile canaliculi antigen was also monitored during regeneration. In control livers, prekeratin and actin filaments formed thick bundles adjacent to plasma membranes. The cytoplasmic prekeratin network was unmarked. In contrast to the latter, the bright well developed intracytoplasmic prekeratin network and intracytoplasmic actin fibers were identified in the perinecrotic hepatocytes by the 3d-4th day of regeneration. This rearrangement of the cytoskeleton coincided in time with the appearance of alpha-fetoprotein and the loss of the bile canaliculi antigen in the perinecrotic hepatocytes.     

Regulation of heme pathway in regenerating mouse liver.

1. delta-Aminolevulinic acid synthetase (ALA-S), rhodanese and microsomal heme oxygenase (MHO), were quantitated in Cl4C induced regenerating mouse liver. 2. Maximal hepatomegalia was observed at 48 hr after i.p. injection of a single dose of the toxin. 3. ALA-S activity decreased on day 2, and then significantly increased (50%) between days 3 and 7, returning afterwards to control values. 4. Cytoplasmic rhodanese, as well as MHO activities, exhibited a clear correlation as compared with the ALA-S activity profile. 5. Porphyrin biosynthesis from precursor delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) was significantly increased even after 15 days of intoxication. 6. Present results would indicate that Cl4C is acting in a dual fashion.     

Glyoxalase I in regenerating mouse liver exposed to carcinogens

Glyoxalase I is the first component of glyoxalase system which is involved in detoxification of alpha-ketoaldehydes and converts them to nontoxic substances. This study reports changes in Glyoxalase I activity in relation to DNA synthesis in regenerating liver treated with two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - 7,12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene and benzo(a)pyrene. Livers after partial hepatectomy show consistent increase in Gly. I which reaches to its peak at 24 hr after surgery. [3H]Thymidine incorporation into DNA also follows the same trend as does Gly. I in regenerating liver. Both the carcinogens have significantly reduced the activity of Gly. I and DNA biosynthesis when compared with untreated partially hepatectomized control livers. The study reveals that though regenerating liver has been considered as an experimental model for neoplasia, unlike tumors (where Gly. I is either absent or in undetectable quantities) it possesses more Gly. I than in normal liver. On the other hand, preneoplastic liver during initiation (in regenerating liver treated with carcinogens, initiation is expected to occur) has very low activity. This suggests that Gly. I is not only involved in controlling growth but possibly is involved in some other phenomenon which is somehow depressed in preneoplastic and cancerous tissues.     

Thymidine triphosphate dephosphorylating activity in regenerating rat liver

The enzyme activity of dephosphorylation of thymidine triphosphate was found in microsomal fraction of rat liver. The enzyme activity decreased at the time when [³H]thymidine incorporation into DNA of regenerating liver increased. When the [³H]thymidine incorporation was suppressed by 1,3-diaminopropane, the enzyme activity remained elevated. These results suggest that the enzyme activity appears to be closely linked to DNA synthesis.     

Adenosine aminohydrolase activity in the regenerating rat liver

The specific activity of adenosine aminohydrolase in the regenerating rat liver is significantly increased 12 h after partial hepatectomy. There is a twofold increase in enzyme activity at 48 h, after which the activity begins to decline. However, increased values still persist 7 days postsurgery. The enzyme is located mainly in the soluble supernatant (90-95%) of the cell. The purified enzyme from 48-h regenerating liver and control liver has similar kinetic properties (Km 54-58 microM for adenosine), similar molecular weights (30,000-35,000), and are equally inhibited by an irreversible transition-state analog and a reversible competitive inhibitor. It is concluded that adenosine aminohydrolase in regenerating liver is an integral component of a salvage pathway designed for the reutilization of nucleotides, and thus helps maintain a "growth state" for the regenerating liver.     

Diamine oxidase activity induction in regenerating rat liver

The synthesis and turnover of diamine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.6) activity was studied in regenerating rat liver after partial hepatectomy using inhibitors of protein and RNA syntheses. The administration to animals of cycloheximide or actinomycin D prevented the increase in diamine oxidase activity normally observed during the first hours after hepatectomy. The study of the turnover rate of diamine oxidase with cycloheximide demonstrated that the half-life of this enzyme was about 15 h in normal and regenerating liver. These results suggest that the rise in diamine oxidase activity in regenerating rat liver was due to the synthesis of new enzyme rather than to a lengthening of its turnover.     

The activity of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase in regenerating rat liver

gamma-Glutamyltranspeptidase is expressed at low levels in the liver of the male Fischer 344 rat where it exhibits 15-fold purification and 33% recovery in isolated plasma membranes. While the activity of the enzyme is unaltered in regenerating liver 24 h after partial hepatectomy, it increases steadily thereafter over a period of one week. Seven days after partial hepatectomy the enzyme is maximally activated: 5.6-fold in liver homogenates and 5.3-fold in isolated liver plasma membranes. The enzyme declines in activity over the next fourteen days and is expressed at normal levels three weeks after partial hepatectomy. These results demonstrate that the activity of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase increases in regenerating liver but that the increase is out of phase with the proliferative response.