Decrease of the activity of the mixed function oxidase system in regenerating rat liver: An alternative explanation

Partial hepatectomy and sham-operation reduce to a similar extent the activity of two enzymes of rat liver mixed function oxidase system, aniline hydroxylase and aminopyrine demethylase. On this basis it is proposed that the decreased functional specialization of regenerating liver depends on events associated to the stress of intra-abdominal surgery and not, as previously hypotized, to cellular multiplication. This view is confirmed by the fact that regenerating liver retains its ability to respond to phenobarbitone administration with an increased activity of the two enzymes.