Zonal differences in DNA synthesis and in transglutaminase activity between perivenous versus periportal regions of regenerating rat liver.

We investigated a relationship within zonal differences in DNA synthesis and in transglutaminase (TGase) activity between perivenous versus periportal regions of regenerating rat liver. Using the digitonin/collagenase perfusion technique, hepatocyte subpopulations were isolated from each region at various time points after partial hepatectomy. The amounts of DNA synthesis as well as the levels of TGase mRNA and activity in each subpopulation were measured. Although increased DNA synthesis was observed in both subpopulations with a peak at 24 h after partial hepatectomy, the amount of DNA synthesis in periportal hepatocytes (PPH) was twice as much as that in perivenous hepatocytes (PVH). In PVH, TGase activity peaked at 24 h after partial hepatectomy with a preceding increase in its mRNA expression at 12 h, whereas TGase activity in PPH at 24 h was one-half of that in PVH. As TGase is known to have a growth-arresting activity, our data indicate that relatively higher TGase activity in PVH at 24 h after partial hepatectomy might correlate with relatively lower DNA synthesis in this region compared to periportal region.