A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF LYSOSOMAL ENZYME CONTENTS IN BLOOD AND LIVER OF RATS FOLLOWING PARTIAL-HEPATECTOMY

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 27  (6) , 448-456
Abstract
Lysosomal enzyme contents (acid phosphatase and .beta.-glucuronidase) in blood and liver were comparatively studied with histochemical methods after 70% hepatectomy in rats. The major source of these enzymes released into the circulation was investigated. The serum lysosomal enzymes were substantially increased immediately after hepatectomy (6 and 12 h), with the simultaneous peak elevation of serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT). This increment decreased thereafter. The 2nd significant increment was observed between 48-72 h postoperatively when SGOT activity was almost normalized. Histochemically, lysosomes in the regenerating liver were significantly increased at 6 and 12 h, mainly in the hepatocytes and at 36 h exclusively in the Kupffer cells after hepatectomy. The initial significant increment of lysosomal enzymes in the serum is probably due to enzymatic leakage following surgical trauma to the remnant liver. The major source of lysosomal enzymes released substantially into the circulation from 48-72 h is probably the Kupffer cells which contained numerous amounts of lysosomes at 36 h following hepatectomy. A possible mechanism for the enzymatic release in this study seems to be reverse endocytosis.