Monday, April 24, 2006

Liver Regeneration

It is a common belief that if a certain percentage of the liver is surgically removed, the person will die or will have difficulties digesting food. According to an article in the Science magazine, the liver has the potential to regenerate itself even if two-thirds is removed.
Bile acid and serotonin are two factors that are related to helping reproduce liver cells. There are receptors on the liver that keep up with the levels of bile acid, and if they exceed what the “small liver” can handle, it initiates regeneration in order to maintain homeostasis in the digestive and circulatory system. Serotonin, even though it is an antidepressant, stimulates cell divisions.
Why can other organs not have this ability to regenerate themselves?

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/312/5771/178a

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home