Tony Gauthier

The effect of γ-Aminobutyric acid on hepatic regenerative activity following partial hepatectomy in rats

Abstract Background: γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a potent inhibitory neurotransmitter with growth-regulatory properties. In fulminant hepatic failure, a condition in which hepatic regeneration may be impaired, systemic serum GABA concentrations are markedly elevated. The present study was designed to determine whether increased amounts of circulating GABA interfere with hepatic regenerative activity. Methods: Exogenous GABA or isotonic saline was administered to adult male rats (n = 6 − 12/group) 16 hours before partial hepatectomy and twice daily for 1–3 days thereafter. The hypertrophic and hyperplastic components of hepatic regeneration were determined by calculation of the restitution of liver mass, [ 14 C]leucine incorporation into protein (protein synthesis), and [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation into hepatic DNA (DNA synthesis). Results: Exogenous GABA impaired restitution of liver mass (GABA vs. controls, day 3: 76% ± 7% vs. 90% ± 9%, mean ± SD) ( P P

Effect of quinolone antibiotics on hepatic growth and protein synthesis following partial hepatectomy in rats

Quinolone antibiotics inhibit eukaryotic as well as prokaryotic cell growth and protein synthesis. To determine whether these properties adversely affect hepatic growth and recovery following surgical resection, five groups of healthy, adult male rats (n = 7–8/group) were treated for 10 days with equal volumes of either ofloxacin (50 mg/kg), fleroxacin (25mg/kg), ciprofloxacin (25 mg/kg), norfloxacin (15mg/kg) or sterile saline (controls) prior to 70% partial hepatectomy (PH) and daily thereafter until death. Restituted liver mass, DNA and protein synthesis rates were determined at 24, 48 and 72 h PH. The results of the study revealed that all parameters of hepatic regeneration were similar in the five study groups at each time interval. To ensure that an effect on hepatic regeneration was not dose‐dependent, additional experiments were performed where 1, 10 and 100 mg/kg ciprofloxacin was administered and DNA synthesis was measured 24 h post‐PH. Once again, the results were similar to sterile saline‐treated controls. These findings suggest that the quinolone antibiotics are unlikely to have an adverse effect on hepatic recovery following surgical resection of the liver and are safe to use in that setting.