Abstract
Summary
Removal of the parathyroid glands in rats reduced the initiation of DNA synthesis and proliferation which normally occurs in the liver parenchymal cells remaining after partial hepatectomy. However, this effect was observed only when the parathyroid glands were removed 24 or more hours before partial hepatectomy. When the glands were removed 12 hr before the partial hepatectomy, there was no decrease in the ability of hepatocytes to initiate the regenerative process. These observations suggest that parathyroid hormone is needed to maintain the competence of liver parenchymal cells to proliferate when activated by partial hepatectomy, but is not involved in the initial activation process itself.
The authors are grateful to Miss J. Bayliss and Mr. D. Gillan for their excellent technical assistance.
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