The effect of ghrelin on hepatocyte proliferation and regenerative liver growth via the autonomic nervou s system

肝脏受到丰富的神经支配，自主神经系统调节肝脏功能，如肝脏再生和细胞凋亡，以及代谢控制。由于Ghrelin通过迷走神经通路参与胃功能的中枢调节，因此我们探讨了Ghrelin在肝功能神经调节中的作用。在二甲基亚硝胺诱导的大鼠致死性肝硬变模型中，反复给予Ghrelin可减少肝细胞胶原沉积和肝细胞凋亡，促进肝细胞增殖和肝功能正常化，从而使致死性肝功能衰竭恢复。Ghrelin还促进了70%部分肝切除大鼠的再生肝生长。因此，Ghrel in可作为一种新的神经内分泌学方法，用于改善肝功能，促进肝硬变和肝切除患者的肝再生。

The liver is richly innervated, and the autonomic nervous system regulates hepatic functions, such as hepatic regeneration and apoptosis, and metabolic control. Because ghrelin participates in the central regulation of gastric functions through vagal nerve pathway, we have explored the effect of ghrelin on the neural regulation of hepatic functions. In a rat model of lethal liver cirrhosis produced by dimethylnitrosamine, repeated ghrelin administration reduces the collagen deposition and hepato cyte apoptosis, and accelerates hepatocyte proliferation and normalization of liver function, resulting in the recovery from lethal hepatic failure. Ghrelin also promotes regenerative liver growth in seventy-percent partial hepatectomized rats. Thus, ghrel in may serve as a new neuroendocrinologic approach for improving hepatic functions and accelerating liver regeneration in-patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatic resection.