Partial liver resection and inflammation: Role of endogenous glucocorticoids

The early local exudative cellular reaction in an inflammatory lesion (pleurisy) was impaired in partially hepatectomized rats, 5 days postoperatively, whereas splenectomized and sham-operated controls exhibited normal responses. Changes in total plasma protein concentration, prothrombin time and blood glucose levels were not observed in these animals. In contrast, enhanced levels of circulating corticosterone were consistently found in rats undergoing liver resection. This was accompanied by the characteristic eosinopenia evoked by increased concentrations of circulating glucocorticoids. Treatment of hepatectomized animals with metyrapone to block synthesis of glucocorticoids without causing a typical deficiency of mineralocorticoids, resulted in the reversal of previously inhibited inflammatory reactions. Complete recovery of the animals was observed 20 days postoperatively, when 85% of liver tissue was regenerated. It is suggested that liver resection might impair the metabolic capacity of the animals leading to increased levels of circulating glucocorticoids that, in turn, could interfere with the development of inflammatory responses.