No harmful effect of mycophenolate mofetil on liver regeneration: an experimental study.

Aim: The aim of this experimental study was to examine the effects of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) on liver regeneration in a partial hepatectomy model.

Methods: Rats were divided into 3 groups immediately following partial liver resection: saline, controls intraperitoneally (MMF; Group 1); MMF (15 mg/kg/d; Group II), and MMF (30 mg/kg/d; Group III). On days 3 and 7 following liver resection we humanely killed half of the rats in each group to measure alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and to evaluate Ki-67 using immunohistochemistry. We calculated liver regeneration rates.

Results: The difference between ALT levels on days 3 and 7 was not significantly different among the groups (P = .157; P = .292; P > .05, respectively). The AST levels were significantly different at 3 days (P = .018) but not 7 days (P = .385). The Ki-67 level were different among groups at day 3 (P = .002) but not at day 7 (P = .290). Liver regeneration rates were not different among the groups either at 3 or at 7 days (P = .264 and P = .925, respectively).

Conclusion: MMF stimulates mitosis but its effect on regeneration is not clear. MMF appeared to show no adverse effects on liver regeneration.