PITUITARY AND ADRENO-CORTICAL RELATIONSHIPS TO LIVER REGENERATION AND NUCLEIC ACIDS

Abstract

The influence of the pituitary and adrenals on liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy was studied on rats. The concn. of desoxyribo-nucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (PNA), total N and percentage regeneration as well as the wet/dry wt. ratio were detd. before and 96 hrs. after lobectomy. Hypophysectomy results in a marked diminution in regeneration, and a change in nucleic acid partition and concn. Adrenalectomy causes an increase in nucleic acid eoncn. in the regenerated liver; this is not reversed when A.C.E. is injd. However, neither adrenalectomy nor the admn. of adrenal-cortex extract has any effectt on the amt. of liver regeneration. The control exercised by the pituitary on the regeneration is hence not exerted through the adrenals; the evidence suggests that it is also not mediated through the thyroid,.