LIVER GROWTH IN THE LACTATING RAT

Abstract
SUMMARY: During the 2nd and 3rd weeks of lactation the liver of the rat hypertrophied to approximately twice its normal size. There was a smaller, but significant, increase in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content, indicating an increase in cell number. The increase in liver protein was reversible, but that in DNA was not. These effects appeared to be due to changes in the intake of food.