Abstract

INTRODUCTION

We assessed the effect of dipyridamole, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, on liver regeneration in experimentally hepatectomized rats.

METHODS

Sixty Wistar-Albino rats were divided into two groups as control and study groups. Each group has been divided into three subgroups containing 10 rats each. After 70% liver resection has been performed to the rats, upon resection dipyridamole infusion to the study group and 0.9 % NaCl infusion to the control group has been done. Rats were allowed to survive for 24, 48, and 72 h and then they were sacrificed. Relative liver weight, AST, ALT, ALP, albumin and PT were measured. Histopathologic assessment was obtained by mitotic index and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling index.

RESULTS

There were statistically significant differences between study and control groups in ALP and relative liver weights at 24, 48, and 72 h (p < 0.05).

There were also statistically significant differences between the groups in PT and albumin levels at 48 h for PT, and 24 h and 72 h for albumin levels (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between study and control groups in AST and ALT at 48 h (p > 0.05). Mitotic index and PCNA labeling index were significantly higher in study group for each time period (p < 0.05).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The dipyridamole exogenously applied after partial hepatectomy has provided improvement in morphological, biochemical and histopathological parameters.