BACKGROUND: To assess the progression of liver regeneration after partial hepatic resection. METHODS: Ten Wistar adult rats, of both sexes were studied. After anesthesia with ether, the animals were submitted to a left lobe parcial hepatectomy . Rats were randomly divided into two groups (n=5) according to the day macro and microscopic studies were carried out, 7th (Group 1) or 21st postoperative days. RESULTS: All rats survived throughout the experimental protocol. The main finding on the seventh day was intraabdominal adhesions. Microscopical examination showed hepatocyte proliferation (polyploid nuclei, mitotic activity) and pattern of acute inflammation. On the twenty-first day, liver aspect was normal. No inflammatory response was observed, and only a few poliploid nuclei were found. CONCLUSION: Recovery of the liver occurs after partial hepatectomy by means of hepatocyte poliploidy.
Liver; Liver regeneration; Polyploidy
