Estradiol and testosterone levels in patients undergoing partial hepatectomy

In five adult male patients undergoing a 40–60% partial hepatectomy, serum sex hormone levels before and after hepatic resection were determined. Blood was drawn immediately prior to each surgical procedure and at specified time points postoperatively. Compared to hormone levels found prior to surgery, following major hepatic resection, estradiol levels increase at 24 and 48 hr, while testosterone levels decline, being significantly reduced at 96 and 144 hr. These data demonstrate that adult males who undergo a 40–60% partial hepatectomy experience alterations in their sex hormone levels similar to those observed in male rats following a 70% hepatectomy. These changes in sex hormone levels have been associated in animals with an alteration of the sex hormone receptor status of the liver that is thought to participate in the initiation of the regenerative response. These studies suggest, but do not prove, that in man, as in the case of the rat, sex hormones may participate in the initiation of or at least modulate in part the regenerative response that occurs following a major hepatic resection.Supported by research grants from the Veterans Administration; project grant DK29961 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; by grant 87/0129144 from the Consiglio Nazionale dell Ricerche, Italy; and by grant AA04425 from NIH.