Selective bowel decontamination does not alter hepatic regeneration in rats.

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether changes to the gut flora that occur following norfloxacin-induced selective bowel decontamination alter hepatic regenerative activity. Adult rats (n = 6 per group) were treated with norfloxacin (10 mg/day) or vehicle for 10 days before 70% partial hepatectomy. Hepatic regenerative activity was determined 24 hours after surgery by documenting restitution of liver mass, [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA, and ornithine decarboxylase activity in the liver. The results of the study revealed that hepatic regeneration was unaffected by norfloxacin therapy. Thus, selective bowel decontamination with norfloxacin does not alter hepatic regenerative activity following partial hepatectomy in the rat.